Local athlete works for NFL team and plays for two professional lacrosse teams

By Craig Rybczynski
knighthawks.net

When the Buffalo Bills traded for quarterback Drew Bledsoe, the fans of Western
New York were not the only ones excited. Rochester Knighthawks defenseman Chris
Schiller was also swept up in the Drew Bledsoe hysteria that stretched from
Buffalo to Rochester.

The excitement was not because Schiller was a long-time Bills fan. In fact, the
Penfield, NY, native was a Miami Dolphins fan growing up. He cheered for Dan
Marino during the Bills' golden years when Jim Kelly was leading the team to
four straight Super Bowls in the early `90s.

Buffalo's acquisition of the New England Patriots' signal-caller meant more to
Schiller because he works as a premium seating sales coordinator for the Buffalo
Bills' Rochester Office. The news of the trade reached Schiller at Penn State
University, where Chris was watching his sister Katie play her last home game
for the Nittany Lions.

Following the Penn State women's lacrosse win on Senior Day, Chris hopped in his
car and made the six- hour trip back to Rochester and opened up for business on
Sunday morning.

"We worked all night and took a few hours break," said Schiller. "All the people
came in and the phones were ringing off the hook. We have sold more season
tickets now than we did all of last year after Drew was signed."

The office was so busy that Buffalo Bills General Manager Tom Donahoe and Head
Coach Gregg Williams drove over an hour to support the staff and buy them pizza
for dinner. The office to date has sold close to 5,000 season tickets for the
2002 season.

For Schiller, the offseason has been exciting, considering that the Bills
finished the 2001 campaign 3-13. The addition of Bledsoe has revived fan
interest in the team and ticket sales. The fervor for the Bills' new quarterback
has spread throughout the country, evidenced by a group of 40 Bills fans from
Oregon that bought tickets for the New England Patriots game. Schiller even sold
four season tickets to fans in Boston, Mass.

"I am enjoying myself," said Schiller from his office in Pittsford. "Last year
was tough, but all the hard work is paying off. It is work, but it is also fun."

Schiller, who graduated from Penn State University with a marketing degree, has
been working for the Buffalo Bills for two seasons. The job has allowed the
McQuaid Jesuit High School graduate to work in sports, a field that has always
interested him. He was a lacrosse standout in high school and college, and now
plays lacrosse professionally for the Rochester Rattlers of Major League
Lacrosse and for the Rochester Knighthawks of the National Lacrosse League.

Juggling three sports would be tough for anyone, but he admits that he enjoys
his hectic schedule. During the National Football League season, a typical week
for Schiller includes his normal office hours with the Bills, lacrosse practice
one night a week with the Knighthawks, a Friday or Saturday NLL game and a
Sunday NFL game. That's a full week for even Deion Sanders. But Schiller has
been allotted the time to pursue his dream of playing professional lacrosse by
the management at the Bills, something that he really appreciates.

"We have a great organization," said Schiller. "Some people in the office play
darts and others play softball, but I just choose to play professional lacrosse.
I can practice at night or during the weekends. It keeps me focused and in
shape. The people here allow me to play."

Last season was Schiller's first with the Rochester Knighthawks, who acquired
him from the Washington Power during the NLL Entry Draft. Earlier in the day,
Schiller was traded from the Philadelphia Wings to the Power. The 6-1, 180-pound
defenseman had waited a year to get on the floor, only making the practice squad
for the NLL champion Wings the previous season.

The 2001-02 season, however, did not go as he expected, as he was hampered by
injuries. The only game that Schiller played in was at the First Union Center
against the Philadelphia Wings on February 1st. He was playing a regular shift
and matching up against Jake Bergey, when his ankle buckled after getting stuck
in a seam in the turf. The injury was worse than he initially expected. Schiller
had suffered a season-ending ankle subluxation, or partial dislocation of the
joint.

"It was no fun sitting on the sidelines," said Schiller. "I can't wait to get
back into the competitive mode again. The feeling you have competing against
people gets the blood flowing."

Schiller will get his first shot at playing again on June 6th when the Rochester
Rattlers travel to play the Baltimore Bayhawks in the season opener. He can't
wait to step on the grass field at Ravens Stadium to play the type of lacrosse
he was raised on in Penfield.

"I definitely have a soft spot in my heart for field lacrosse. I have more room
to run and I love the outdoors," he said. "I can't wait (to get back on the
field).

"I am anxious to prove myself outdoors and translate that into the indoor
season."

Rattlers Head Coach Guy Van Arsdale admitted that it might be tough for Schiller
to have a year like he did in 2001. It would be hard for any player, going up
against some of the best players in the world as a short-stick defenseman.
Schiller thrived in that situation last season.

"He had such a great year last year, it will be hard for him to improve," said
Van Arsdale. "We'd be tickled to death if he can give us what he did a year ago.

"One thing he has improved on is his strength," added Van Arsdale. "He will
always be one of the fastest, if not the fastest player in the MLL. That added
strength definitely will help."

The home fans will have a chance to watch Schiller play at Frontier Field on
June 15th against the Bayhawks. Schiller, who still lives in Penfield, always
has a large contingent of fans at the stadium in downtown Rochester.

"I can't wait to see the crowd," he said. "Frontier Field is a great place to
play and the fans are definitely the best in the league."

Until the MLL season starts, Schiller will have the Buffalo Bills and Drew
Bledsoe to keep him busy.