2007 ALL-STARS
ANNOUNCED!!!!!!!!
IT WILL BE AA VS. AAA ON JULY 14TH IN IDAHO
FALLS, IDAHO!!!
RMFL – The 10th annual RMFL All-Star
Classic will kick-off on Saturday, July 14th at approximately 6:15
p.m… and this year’s all-star game will have a new twist.
For the first time, albeit there have only been two
seasons, the RMFL’s AAA All-stars will battle with the best players of the AA
in a game that is “all about fun”.
It would seem, on the surface, that the AA stars would
be at a significant disadvantage, playing against the best players from the
best teams, however, according to RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, it could
still be anyone’s game.
“The difference between the AAA and AA has always been
3 primary things,” Neumeier postulated, “First, size of linemen; second, number
of players (depth) and third, quality of quarterbacks. Well, in this format, the AA should be able
to find as much size as the AAA, they will have equal depth AND they should be
able to find at least two quality quarterbacks… so you would think.”
Neumeier, however, added that someone from the
Managing Board made a pretty prophetic statement at the Kick-off meeting, “it
can’t get any worse”.
This statement speaks to the fact that the last two
all-star games went very badly for the North… conversely very well for the
South. Both games were blowouts in
which the North squad could not gain nary a yard or a point. The South won both games by a combined total
of 80-13!
So… the RMFL is experimenting with the new format that
will, at least, put together as teammates players from such rivals as the
Rhino-Raiders and Lionz or Speed and Wolverines or Mustangs and Seminoles. “I like to think of this as much of a social
affair as a football game”, Neumeier said.
“I hope that some real friendships develop out of the event. With the
players coming in early, it gives them extra time to kid around with their new
teammates.”
Players who play will be required to report by 2:30
p.m. to change and prep and be on the field by 3:00 p.m. to partake in a 2 hour
warm up and strategy session with the coaches.
As has become tradition, between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. as
players are cooling off for the big contest, the RMFL will conduct its “Fastest
Man” race, its “Strongest Man” contest and its “Strongest Arm” contest. ALL RMFL players are invited to participate
in the pre-game festivities.
“I was real excited to go from 32 to 35 players and
then from 35 to 40, but honestly, even at 40 players per squad there are some
real legitimate all-star players that are not only not on the first team, but
didn’t even make the alternate list,” Neumeier added. Neumeier said that… just for good measure… he placed 41 players
on the AA team. “Just to for some
help…”
The 2007 All-Stars were selected similar to previous
seasons whereby the GM’s and or coaching staffs of each team submit to the
league a ranked list of their players from which the RMFL fills the squads
based on team performance using the teams ranked lists.
With the new format, however, the headache of
comparing “apples and oranges” as between AA and AAA players will not be an
issue this season as in the past. The
players were competing fro spots between only players at their same level.
“What is truly unique this season is the how the
players panned out from each team,” Neumeier explained, “the AAA is absolutely
loaded with big time receivers. So I
made more slots for receivers and less for other positions. The AA, on the
other hand, is loaded with great running backs. I’m sure the AAA would love to
have the #1 and #2 alternates from the AA team.”
“Part of the philosophy of how we create our all-star
team,” Neumeier explained is not so much to ensure that our top 80 players make
it, but to make sure our top 40 or 60 do AND that we have a good ‘mixing’ of
the teams. Each team will have at least
two players named to the first team.
This event is about playing the game with, rather than against the guys
you have been against all year. It has
always been a great place to shape friendships and get to know the guys from
the other teams. Hopefully, guys plan on getting there early… and plan on
staying late… and just enjoying the All-Star experience.”
“The top teams received priority as well in how their
players were put on,” Neumeier added, “these teams pretty much got their top
ranked players on the team according to their own rankings, whereas some of the
other teams had might have seen higher ranked players skipped over because his
position was filled already. If a
player from the Rhino-Raiders, Cache Valley, Madison or Idaho Falls was left
off, it was a combination of how their GM/coach ranked them and the fact that
there is a limit to how many from each team can make it. Before anyone complains, ask themselves,
‘who from my team should be dropped for me to make it… then make that case to
your GM. It is a bit late, now, but it
is important to understand how that works.”
“Bottom line. If you don’t like that your team didn’t
get more players, then win more games! It’s as simple as that,” Neumeier added.
“This is a team game and so as the team goes, so does the individuals… and
probably vice versa. I’ve seen a lot of
all-star quality players not getting on the all-star team over the years
because of their team’s performance.
But that is a lot of what football is about. If one guy gets a penalty,
you ALL get a penalty. If your quarterback throws an interception, you ALL
threw an interception… And, generally speaking, the better players are playing
on the most successful teams anyway.”
Coaches for the All-Star games will be split crews,
keeping in the nature of the All-Star game as both players and coaches will get
to know and work with each other. For
the AAA team, the Eastern Idaho Lionz will have the option of coaching the
offense, Cache Valley the defense and Idaho Falls the Special Teams. For the AA squad, the Vipers will coach the
offense, the Bitterroot Blaze the defense and the Bear River Valley Rockets to
coach the Special teams.
This All-Star team list is presented below with alternates
for each position listed in order of how they will be asked in the event that a
first team player cannot be confirmed.
GM’s and coaches will have until next Wednesday (June 20th) to confirm
first team players. Any unconfirmed
players will be dropped from the active team and alternates will be
contacted. As soon as the RMFL knows
that a first team player will not be able to play in the game, the alternate
will be notified (in other words, the league may not wait until after next
Wednesday to start contacting certain alternates).
First team players can also request a different number
than the one listed for them on their rosters.
NOTE: FIRST TEAM NAMES LISTED IN RANDOM ORDER. NOT NECESSARILY STARTING
ORDER.
AAA
ALL-STARS (AWAY TEAM)
OFFENSE:
Quarterback: Caleb Eastman, Cache Valley;
Jeff Wissler, Heat; Donavan Ard, Idaho Fals
Running Back: Justin Oswald, Rhino-Raiders;
Travis Boden, Idaho Falls; John Jensen*, Wolverines
Fullback: Dannon Handcuff, Heat
Tight End: Nate Brown, Eastern Idaho
Wide Receiver: Joe Mapson, Wolverines;
Norvel Young, Cache Valley; Brandon Reed, Idaho Falls; Zack Johnson, Eastern
Idaho; Jeff Johnson, Heat
Offensive Line: Ryan Lingenfelder, Idaho
Falls; Jimmy Walker, Cache Valley; Eric Christiansen, Rhino-Raiders; Nate
Babtist, Rhino-Raiders; Travis Hobson, Pocatello; Eric Hancock, Pocatello; Tren
Hagman, Muddogs; Mike Bills, Boise
Place-kicker: Alex Whetman, Wolverines
DEFENSE:
Defensive Tackle: James Huml, Eastern Idaho;
Vaea Fiefia, Cache Valley; Mike Tooa, Heat
Defensive End: Tracy Ita, Rhino-Raiders;
Austin Callison, Boise; Roy Withers, Idaho Falls
Linebacker: Roger Shulze, Wolverines, Matt
Shoda, Wolverines; Josh Pettit, Eastern Idaho; Matt Wiser, Cache Valley; Levine
Tupe, Rhino-Raiders
Cornerback: Chris Carter, Rhino-Raiders;
David Fuentes, Heat, Kyto Khouangrasvongsay, Muddogs, Chase Harris, Cache
Valley
Safety: Jason Hermansen, Salt Lake; Harold
Ragin, Salt Lake; Troy Sutton, Pocatello
Return Specialist: Spoon Moala, Salt Lake
ALTERNATES (listed in order they would be
asked to play in the event a first team player does not play):
Quarterback:
Dean
Fountaine, Wolverines
Todd Barber,
Eastern Idaho
Ryan Harris,
Cache Valley
Running
Back:
Nate
Jackson, Cache Valley
Levi Vagana,
Heat
Fullback:
Pete
Shields, Cache Valley
Beau Whalen,
Wolverines
Tight
End:
Chad Kjar –
Muddogs
Ryan Sealy -
Wolverines
Wide
Receiver:
Brian
Simmons – Heat
Brandon
Peebler – Pocatello
Justin
DeFour – Rhino-Raiders
Ammon Kaonohi
– Eastern Idaho
Jeremy
Prussia - Boise
Offensive
Line:
Tyson
Poulsen – Idaho Falls
Aaron Sawyer
– Wolverines
Dezmond
Alverado – Heat
Liea Mapu –
Salt Lake
Nick Vicars
- Muddogs
Place
Kicker:
Rodney
Frokjer – Rhino-Raiders
Chace
McMurdie – Cache Valley
Defensive
Line:
Matt Taliulu
– Rhino-Raiders
Andrew
Butler – Wolverines
Brandon
Hawkes – Eastern Idaho
Defensive
Tackle:
Ty Mapu –
Salt Lake
Kraig Ward –
Idaho Falls
Dan Koski -
Boise
Linebacker:
Jake Phippen
– Rhino-Raiders
Kaleb Moir –
Pocatello
Chris
Rosales – Salt Lake
Fisi
Tuatonga – Heat
Justin
Walker – Rhino-Raiders
Defensive
Back:
Nate
Tuitagaloa – Cache Valley
Dylan Cooper
– Idaho Falls
Dustin
McCammon – Wolverines
Siolo Toala
– Heat
Koby Spencer
– Idaho Falls
Jeff May –
Pocatello
Kick Return/Special
Teams Specialist:
Brandon
Merchant*
*Merchant
will be injury replacement for John Jensen; play as special teams specialist
AA
ALL-STARS (HOME TEAM)
OFFENSE:
Quarterback: Mike Jenkins, Bear River
Valley; Shane Jurasek, Missoula
Halfback: Justin Nixon, Bitterroot; Anthony
Pomerlee, Idaho; Mike Messinger, Bear River Valley
Halfback/Quarterback: Tyler Collingwood,
Snake River
Fullback: Josh Christensen, Vipers
Tight End: Ja’Ton Simpson, Missoula
Wide Receiver: Dave Garza, Missoula; Javon
Lincoln, Idaho; Brad Cook, Magic Valley; Tom Wright, Morgan
Offensive Line: Brian Gollnick, Bitterroot;
Jason Schumacher, Bitterroot; Kevin Slater, Vipers; Kelly Kariger, Vipers;
Henry Vincent, Bear River Valley; Austin Rowser, Morgan; Steve Biggs, Glacier;
Rob Longshaw, Idaho; Shelby Iverson, Great Falls
Place-kicker: Eric Peterson, Bitterroot
DEFENSE:
Defensive Tackle: Roger Gonzalez, Snake
River; Terry Hiatt, Helena; Dave Moore, Great Falls
Defensive End: Brian Buckreus, Bitterroot;
Josh Sides, Vipers; Bob Anderson, Helena
Linebacker: Tiff Meyers, Helena; Jamie
Jones, Bitterroot; Tierre Johnson, Magic Valley; Mike Pease, Great Falls; Rich
Glenn, Bear River Valley; Jeff Hancock, Vipers
Cornerback: Andy Shindler, Vipers; Kurt Rausch,
Bitterroot; Kyle Gambrel, Magic Valley; Stephen Schreibeis, Missoula
Safety: Adam Whitaker, Bear River Valley;
Nick Russell, Idaho; Jason Zielanski, Glacier
Return Specialist: Nash Montoya, Vipers
ALTERNATES (listed in order they would be
asked to play in the event a first team player does not play):
Quarterback:
Tom Bennett,
Idaho
Steve
Kurshner, Helena
James Flynn,
Vipers
Running
Back:
Devon
Holbrook, Vipers
Dave
Williams, Bear River Valley
Yahreen
Collins, Great Falls
Fullback:
Tyler Jolley,
Bitterroot
Derek Burch,
Helena
Tight
End:
Tim Rhoades,
Morgan
Curtis
Chatterton, Snake River
Wide
Receiver:
Chris Bailey
– Idaho
AJ Varela –
Helena
Marvin Mays
– Bear River Valley
Freddie
Brown - Helena
Offensive
Line:
Chuck Hall –
Vipers
Trip Ladeau –
Bear River Valley
Wes Newman –
Snake River
Taryn Pullin
– Magic Valley
Place-Kicker:
Bryce
Kennington – Vipers
Kyle Burgess
- Glacier
Defensive
End:
Eric
Bachofer – Glacier
Norm
Robinson – Magic Valley
Defensive
Tackle:
Jeff Hecht –
Missoula
Josh Slater –
Vipers
Paul Tryon -
Bitterroot
Linebacker:
Chris Jones
– Bitterroot
Spencer
Steiner – Helena
Bud Maynard
– Missoula
Nick Ramsey
– Idaho
Luke Eyre –
Morgan
Nevada
Grassi – Bear River Valley
Defensive
Back:
Brian Hughes
– Missoula
Joel
Gunstream – Idaho
Kyle Rausch
- Bitterroot
Paul Hill -
Morgan
Return
Specialist:
Chris Brown
- Bitteroot