McMichael, Slaughter set to open IFL season Feb. 19

The Chicago Slaughter will open its fifth season of indoor professional football on Feb. 19, followed by its home opener in Hoffman Estates on Feb. 26.

The Slaughter are co-owned by former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon and led by head coach Steve “Mongo” McMichael, both members of the 1985 Super Bowl XX champion Bears, and all home games are played at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates.

The Slaughter also is bringing back Jarrett Payton, son of legendary NFL running back Walter Payton, for the 2011 season.

The home opener will kick off Feb. 26 against the Omaha Beef, a franchise that has been around for 11 seasons and made the playoffs for 10 straight seasons.

The Slaughter is one of 22 teams in the three-year-old Indoor Football League, which features six divisions. Twelve IFL teams can qualify for the playoffs, and the Slaughter's division features the Bloomington Extreme, Green Bay Blizzard and La Crosse Spartans.

“We want to Slaughter the Beef on opening night, and we want our fans to be apart of the excitement,” McMichael said.

Fans may purchase season tickets or organize a group outing by calling the Slaughter office at (847) 310-3190 or visiting the team's website at www.chicagoslaughter.com.

In addition to the games, the Slaughter has planned several promotions throughout the season for fans:

March 5: A Mardi Gras Family Fun Night with a Dance and Cheer Fest earlier that day, with the Grand Champion selected by the fans that night.

April 9: First All-Scout Rockin' Lock-In with scouts and leaders staying overnight at the Sears Centre for games and movies.

April 29: A Halfway to Halloween Family Fun Night for fans to wear costumes and win great prizes.

June 4: Cruise-In Night with vintage and custom cars, bikes and trucks showcased by Universal Technical Institute.