Slaughter Prepares for Saturday Playoff Game
Published on June 18, 2009 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
Chicago Slaughter News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL. -- Before Tuesday night's practice even started, before the team's weekend playoff game, the Chicago Slaughter players seemed pretty loose and relaxed as they waited for things to kick off that evening.
The tone dramatically shifted once Head Coach Steve McMichael got on the field.
McMichael gathered his players at mid-field and explained the frustration he felt when the 1985 Chicago Bears, a team that McMichael was a member, lost a heartbreaking game to the Miami Dolphins to lose their chance at a perfect season. He wanted to make sure that every player in attendance knew the feeling that followed after that tough defeat.
"It's a shame after you dump a game when really the team that beats you wasn't as good as you are," McMichael said. "All you think is 'There goes history. There goes your sense of accomplishing something that is rare.' And it haunts you for the rest of your life."
After McMichael's pep talk, the team started their preparations as they get ready to face the Wisconsin Wolfpack in the first round of playoffs this weekend. Although he Slaughter has beaten the Wolfpack three times already, the players know that they can't take this team for granted.
"You can never take a team for granted," said LB DeJuan Alfonzo. "We've played this team three times. We struggled with them once, we beat them pretty badly the next time, and the last time we didn't play great on defense and just played ok on offense. We've got to take a good look from the last time we played them and correct the mistakes we made in that game. We don't want to take this game for granted just because we beat them three times."
RB Nick Cosentino, who has competed in several playoff games, didn't see much difference in his preparation for the team's upcoming tilt with Wisconsin.
"Nothing really changes," Cosentino said. "We've got to be focused and come in here today and work hard tonight to get ready for this week. (The team is) focused and pretty much ready to go. The attitude is to finish this thing out one week at a time, so this week is our concern."
Despite being cautious in preparing for the Wolfpack, the team seems to know what it needs to do in order to win on Saturday.
"The guys know that it's the playoffs right now, but it's just another game," said K Chris Nendick. "You've got to take it one game at a time, one step at a time, and if we don't win on Saturday, we're not playing next week (for the championship). You just play one game at a time, keep doing what we've been doing all year, and pieces will fall into place."
The 2009 Chicago Slaughter (12-0) just finished their first undefeated regular season schedule, and will host a Playoff game on June 20th at the Sears Centre against the Wisconsin Wolfpack. Kickoff will be at 7:05p.m.
Saturday will be Make-A-Wish night, as the Slaughter joins forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois and Jett's Heating & Air to raise funds in order to grant a child's wish. Several Chicago Bears - including Mark Anderson, Marcus Harrison, Eric Peterman and Ervin Baldwin- will be on hand to sign autographs after the game. Jett's will also be selling raffle tickets for the chance to win a new heating and air conditioning system, with proceeds going to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Illinois.
For more information on the playoff game and the Make-A-Wish Night, please call the Slaughter at (847) 310-3190 or visit our website at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 18, 2009
- Slaughter Prepares for Saturday Playoff Game - Chicago Slaughter
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