Slaughter opens season with former Rush players

The Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Football League opens its season Friday night against the Milwaukee Bonecrushers at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

Former Bears Pro Bowl defensive tackle Steve McMichael enters his third season as head coach of the Slaughter, which has added some of the top players from the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League, which has suspended operations for 2009.

Quarterback Russ Michna, a Conant High School product, will direct the offense.

In 11 weeks as the Rush starter last season, Michna threw 57 TD passes with only 7 interceptions and compiled an 8-3 record. He threw for 2,721 yards with a passer rating of 122.9, which was fourth in the AFL. Michna was responsible for 71 touchdowns and 2,819 yards, including 98 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground.

Michna compiled a record of 20-6 at Western Illinois University from 2000-03, throwing for a total of 6,434 yards which ranks second in Leathernecks history. Michna set school records for passing yards (3,160) and total offense (3,327) in '03. He was named Gateway Conference player of the year, first-team all-Gateway Conference and was Co-SIDA Academic All-District in '02 and '03. Michna is the only player in Gateway Conference history to win back-to-back offensive player of the year awards.

Dennison Robinson, the 2008 Arena Football League defensive player of the year, will anchor the Slaughter defense after playing the past three seasons with the Rush. Robinson's former Rush teammate, DeJuan Alfonzo, also signed with the Slaughter.

The 30-year-old, 6-foot, 195-pound Robinson led the AFL with 13 interceptions last season, returning 2 for touchdowns. He led the Rush with 102 tackles in '07, a franchise record. Robinson also played with the AFL's Las Vegas Gladiators (2002-04) and the Grand Rapids Rampage (2005). He made the AFL all-rookie team and was named the Gladiators' Ironman of the Year twice.

The CIFL is similar to Arena Football, although instead of eight men to a side, they play 7-on-7 on a 50-yard-by-25-yard field.

For more information or tickets call (847) 310-3190 or visit the team's Web site at www.chicagoslaughter.com.