Life is a kick
March 24, 2008
The name Brad “Automatic” Abraham will forever echo throughout IFL history like the names George Blanda, Jan Stenerud and Adam Vinatieri do in the NFL. The two time All-IFL award winning kicker is the most accurate and feared kicker in the league. Abraham’s career began in 6th grade were he played for the Cedarburg Colts, even at a young age Abraham loved to just kick the crap out of a ball. From grade school to High school, Abraham was a standout kicker who eventually was moved to the Varsity squad as a freshman when one of his varsity coaches noticed him out kicking the senior kicker.
Abraham enjoyed a successful high school career before accepting to go to UW-Platteville were he shined the brightest. After being named to several All-American teams for punting his junior season, “The Sporting News” named Abraham a pre-season All-American his senior season where he again finished the year on many All-American squads. All in all, Abraham’s collegiate career included 3 All-Conference honors, WIAC special teams player of the week three times, Special Teams MVP for the Pioneers twice, All-Region honors three times and All-American honors twice. Abraham also holds three records at UW-Platteville that include 40.9 yard career average, 41.9 yard single season average and a single game average of 48 yards per punt on 8 punts. He also holds the second longest punt in school history which was 72 yards.
After college, Abraham wanted to fulfill his dream and play in the NFL. He attended one All-Star game in Minneapolis that attracted many scouts and also participated in two combines, one in Baltimore and the other in Atlanta. Despite doing well, Abraham only attracted little attention where at this time he realized the dream of playing in the NFL was just that, a dream. But Abraham still wanted to play football and in 2003 he found a new team and a league nicknamed the “Working man’s NFL” that gave Abraham the chance he was looking for. The team was the newly founded Muskego Hitmen and the league was called the Ironman Football League. The Hitmen were just coming off their first Iron Bowl defeat to the hands of the New Berlin Lunatics in Iron Bowl VII when Abraham joined the team.
In 2004, with Abraham as the full time starter at kicker/punter, the Muskego Hitmen eventually went on to win their first Iron Bowl championship in only their second year as a team. Abraham’s teammates describe him as a quiet, lead by example player who wants to get the job done and go home. “Being a kicker can be a double edged sword” Abraham said, “Because your abilities are in the spotlight, you do great and everyone loves you, if not, you are hated by all.” Abraham admits that the pressure can be at times overwhelming, but he gets through it and finds a way to get the job done. Abraham’s next stop in his career no question will be the Hall of Fame as the Muskego Hitmen and the rest of the IFL had the pleasure in watching Mr. Automatic’s rare talent consistently split the uprights for 5 years.