Sikora

This is one in a series of articles on Slippery Rock University graduates who have moved on to athletic careers elsewhere.John Sikora is still trying to fathom it all.He's a father again — and a champion again.The SlipperyRock University graduate received two gifts one month apart this spring. His third daughter, Jemma, was born the Friday before his Chicago Rush Arena Football League team hosted Utah.A little more than a month later, the Rush concluded an improbable run and won the AFL championship."Just talking about it now, it's finally starting to sink in a little bit," said Sikora from his Ebensburg home. "It's still hard to believe we won a championship."It was a whirlwind time for Sikora, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound offensive and defensive lineman, who was one of just a few healthy Rush players during the stretch run of the AFL season.Chicago was struggling through a myriad of injuries and a 5-9 record before Jemma was born.Because of that, Sikora couldn't leave the Rush to be a part of Jemma's birth.But her arrival came at the perfect time in the cosmic scheme of things for Sikora and theRush.Chicago beat Utah 84-48, breaking the franchise record for single-game scoring. It then won five straight road games, culminating with a 69-61 win over Orlando in the AFL championship game.It was Sikora's second AFL title. He played for Albany (N.Y.) in 1999 when the Firebirds won it."Everyone called (Jemma) our good-luck charm," Sikora said. "We didn't lose a game since she was born."In fact, the ownership group, which includes Mike Ditka, flew Sikora's wife, Stephanie and all three of their daughters, Jaylee, 4, Jewel, 19 months, and, of course, Jemma, to Las Vegas for the AFL title game.The luck held out."I still can't believe we won the championship," Sikora said. "We needed to win the last two games just to get into the playoffs. We were playing well, but not playing too smart."Or with much luck up until Jemma was born.The run of injuries started before the first game of the season when kicker DanFrantz pulled a hamstring during the pre-game warmup, forcing backup quarterback and Kansas State graduate Michael Bishop into emergency kicking duties.Sikora was one of only four Rush players to play in all 20 games last season.He also earned the team's Lineman of the Year Award.Sikora said he has cherished this championship just as much as the first."This year was a tough season, our record wasn't the best," Sikora said. "We were pretty banged up, but this team pulled together."Sikora is no stranger to playing on both sides of the ball, as he has been required to do in the AFL for the last eight seasons.Early in his career at SRU, Sikora switched sides of the ball.He was recruited by SlipperyRock as an offensive lineman, but at 215 pounds and surrounded by men who were much bigger than him, he asked SRU head coach George Mihalik if he could switch to defense."I can remember Coach Mihalik saying we'd give it a try and then move me back," Sikora said. "I didn't move back."Instead, Sikora was a force on The Rock line. He was a two-time all-American and set school records for tackles for a loss in a game (four) and in a season (18).He ended his career with 267 tackles — 37 for a loss — and 13 sacks at The Rock.He hoped that would translate to a career in the NFL, but he was never signed.Sikora's workouts, though, gained him some attention from AFL teams and a workout for that league, which he calls the best of his life, earned him a spot withAlbany in 1999.The rest is history.Sikora, now 34, will return toChicago this season to help the Rush defend the title. Beyond that, his playing future is up in the air.Sikora does want to coach. He is an assistant coach at Central Cambria High School and would like to coach in the AFL after his playing days are over.And it may be close to home."With the way the AFL has grown, there's talk of a team coming back to Pittsburgh," Sikora said. "That would be nice."