RMFL’S 2007 KICK-OFF MEETING:

A MIXED BAG OF CONTROVERSY, CHANGE AND EXCITEMENT FOR THE 2007 SEASON

RMFL – For the first time since 1998, the Rocky Mountain Football League only had one new team applying for admittance for the upcoming season.

Rather than the single admittance, however, simplifying the admittance process and the earlier half of session one, the application and admittance of the Salt Lake Seminoles Friday night, January 26th ended up doing no such thing.

SESSION ONE:

NEW TEAM ADMITTANCE/AAA COMPOSITION:

With the admittance of new teams being the first order of business on the League’s session one agenda, the Salt Lake Seminoles took the podium.  Organized originally by former Salt Lake Nemesis defensive back/quarterback, Nate Cone, the Seminoles management evolved and were well represented at the meeting. It was Cone, however, that made the teams formal presentation.

As a requirement for admission, new teams were required to bring a copy of their roster (presumably for the Managing board), a VHS tape of a practice session, pay their league fees and prove they had secured a home field location.  Although the Seminoles stumbled on a few of the requirements, particularly the securing of a home field, which was “guaranteed” by Seminole management to be Cottonwood high school, the RMFL Managing Board, after much debate, approved the Seminoles for admission by an 18-0 count and later, approved them as a AAA team by a 9-8-3 vote.


Salt Lake Seminoles' Nate Cone makes presentation to RMFL Managing Board. Seminoles approved into the league by an 18-0 vote.

In betwixt the two votes, however, there was much discussion and controversy.

Many within the Managing Board, including RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, felt that although the Seminoles belonged in the league, that even though a precedent had been set the previous season that the admission into the AAA of new teams, (Cache Valley and the Utah Heat in 2006), could be allowed, that new teams as a matter of form should “prove it for a season at the AA level” before being allowed into the AAA division.

The first vote taken by Commissioner Neumeier, actually rejected the Seminoles AAA application by a count of 6 to 13 to 1 (Rhino-Raiders not present for session one).  However, after a number of Managing Board members claimed they “did not understand the vote”, another “re-count” was taken in which a number of Board members changed their mind and the Seminoles were temporarily approved for the AAA division.

Then, the meeting turned lively.

The majority of the current AAA teams seemed concerned that a team that could not meet the minimum requirements (and prove it) by the league meeting should NOT be approved for the league’s highest level.  The majority of the AA teams, however, overruled believing that the Seminoles in the AAA was the right thing to do.  When the Commissioner declared a “Final” vote, the Seminoles were approved for the AAA by a 9-8-3 margin.

Pocatello’s Travis Hobson, who was the most vocal regarding enforcing a “no new team in the AAA policy” stated, “we are going to regret this vote.”

According to RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, he believed that the Seminoles would have a good team with good players, however, suggested, “there is no reason to think that they will be any better than last season’s Salt Lake Nemesis who finished 1-8.  It just seemed that votes were cast strictly for the best interest of certain teams… and not for the league as a whole. The decision may turn out to be right… however, the reasons may not have been.”

Finally, the issue of the Seminoles not proving a home field may come into play anyway. The league has given the Seminoles until Wednesday, January 31st to submit verifiable proof of a secured home field or else submit to a final vote of their fate from the Managing Board. Early input from a number of board members ranged from dropping them to AA to dropping them from the league entirely if they cannot prove what they gave as their word on Friday night.

RMFL LEAGUE STRUCTURE:

The RMFL approved a 10-team AAA (with the Seminoles included) that would be a single division league and a schedule where every team would play every other team once, for a 9-game schedule.  According to Neumeier, if the Seminoles are dropped from the AAA for field issues, the AAA would go to 9 teams with every team playing every other team once and an 8-game schedule.  The league initially set up the AAA for 6-teams making the playoffs (assuming 10 teams), however, according to the league, if there end up being only 9 teams, there would only be 4 playoff teams. “That change would be part budgetary, as well as making more sense,” Neumeier said, “we would have a $1000 shortfall in the league coffers and it doesn’t make sense that 66% of your league make the playoffs.”


RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, outlines the season as approved by the Managing Board. RMFL Championship game slated for July 7th.

The AA was once again divided into the Northern Conference with the Montana teams playing a schedule similar to 2006 and the Rocky Mountain Conference, composed of the remaining 6 AA teams, playing an 8-game schedule that would be divisional in nature with the Idaho teams playing home and away’s with each other with the Utah teams doing the same.  In both Montana and the Rocky Mountain Conference, 3 teams would make the playoffs with #2 hosting #3 in the respective conferences in the first round before cross-over games took place in the semi-finals, which was the same format in 2006.  In 2007, however, the lower conference (Rocky Mountain) would win a tie-breaker in the championship if the two seeds matching up were the same (i.e., if the two #1’s or the two #2’s meet for the championship, the Rocky Mountain team would host.)

Games will start for the AAA teams on April 14th with the Championship game being held on July 7th.  The AA Montana teams will start play on April 7th and play Memorial Day Saturday, finishing up their regular season on June 9th (same time as the Rocky Mountain Conference teams) and the AA Championship game will be held on June 30th.

RMFL ALL-STAR GAME FORMAT CHANGE:

The RMFL All-Star Game will be held on July 14th.  The Managing Board approved an surprise suggestion to make the All-Star game a AAA vs. AA event, which will place Utah and Idaho players on the same team for the first time ever.  Although there was some concern about the potential outcome, the intrigue of the game won over the board, with one member commenting, “it can’t get any worse than the last two games” (both won by the South by a combine score of 80-13).

RMFL MANAGEMENT CHANGES:

To end session one, Commissioner Neumeier unveiled his plan to expand the RMFL League Office.

Neumeier explained how his commissioner replacement search had become extremely difficult in light of the overwhelming tasks and needed training any single individual would need to take over what has become one of the most daunting jobs in semi-pro sports.

Neumeier opted to parcel out the Commissioner role into an RMFL AA Commissioner and a AAA Commissioner.  These commissioners would assume all of his commissioner, statistician and sports writing duties for their respective divisions from the point of the Kick-off meeting up to and including the all-star game and final league meeting.  Neumeier would continue with the RMFL as the league’s overall commissioner as well as continuing to handle web master functions all year long.


Utah Wolverines' GM, Ed Cerise (center), named AA Commissioner beginning in 2008.

Neumeier named Utah Wolverine General Manager, Ed Cerise as the new AA Commissioner beginning with the 2008 season.  Cerise brings not only strong leadership, but also a great background for the statistic presentation and sports writing requirements of the position. According to Neumeier, however, Cerise’s biggest asset may be his common sense. “What I like about Ed most is that he has a no nonsense approach to problems that I like,” Neumeier commented, “we have not agreed on every issue that comes up, but we have always understood where the other was coming from and we both believe this league is FOR the players.  He is smart, and best of all, non political.”

Neumeier named current RMFL Head of Officials, Dave Sire, to the AAA Commissioner post for next season.  Sire has served as the league’s Head of Officials for the past 4 seasons and has never been involved with any of the teams. Sire is a 30-year veteran of football officiating and brings with him a non-partisanship that no other candidate could bring. Also, according to Neumeier, “his ability to collect and crunch statistics far exceeds my own.”  Neumeier however, was not looking for just a “stat guy” for the position, but someone who demographically represented the AAA area, could and would attend many AAA games and would not likely be serving on a team that could someday turn AAA.  “One of the problems with getting a AAA commissioner,” Neumeier explained, “is that I obviously couldn’t get a current AAA GM and any AA GM’s could potentially be AAA next year.  The more I thought about it, the more Dave was going to have to be the guy. I’m just glad he accepted.”


RMFL Head of Officials, Dave Sire (center), sharing some information at a break. Sire to take over AAA Commissioner duties in '08 creating a void in the RMFL Head of Officials Office.

The re-assignment of Sire, however, opens up a void for a new RMFL Head of Officials in 2008.  According to Neumeier, he is completely open as to who that would be, “it just needs to be someone who can communicate well… and often with the other officials around the league and help make sure they all understand the rules we want to play by and that they are all consistent from season to season.  Neumeier said that the position should go to a current official.

Neumeier also unveiled another new position to open up in the Rocky Mountain Football League in 2007, an RMFL Marketing Director.  More details on this position, as well as the Head of Officials will be posted in a future article.

Neumeier also announced that he hopes that by 2009, the Northern AA Conference will have developed to the point… and have someone in position to assume the role of a Montana Commissioner.  “If the AA continues to grow, and we continue to have those teams play a separate regular season schedule (for travel purposes), it is going to make more and more sense.  Whoever writes about those teams should be there to see them play a lot more than someone in Utah or Idaho certainly can.”

An organization chart for the RMFL by 2009 could look something like this:


The RMFL would have at least two positions to fill before 2008; a Marketing Director and a replacement Head of Officials for Dave Sire.

Neumeier also suggested that each individual on this chart could potentially hire a staff to help with their duties… as long as they shared the salary of that position as well.

RMFL BUDGET:

Finally, after presenting the RMFL Budget, the Managing Board adjusted certain allotments and formally decided on one all-star game of 40-players per team in the final budget approval process. Commissioner Neumeier re-structured the format of the budget to add the salary (commissions would be extra) of the Marketing Director as well as delineating specific salaries for what will be the AAA and AA Commissioner positions in 2008.  The FINAL BUDGET was approved unanimously.

SESSION TWO:

After the dust settled  from the Friday night session, Saturday’s session two ran quite a bit more non-controversially.

Neumeier reviewed through the RMFL Handbook and the correct procedures, deadlines and fines for all of the requirements GM’s must know and follow during the upcoming season.

The AAA teams approved unanimously to drop the 2-game allowance for getting players in “full uniform”.  AAA teams must have players in full matching uniform beginning with the first game of the season. The fine for each violation will be $25/occurrence.  AA teams have until their 3rd game to come into full compliance although all teams are EXPECTED to be in full compliance from game one.


Boise-ites and ex-teammates, Todd Rietmann (left) and Tom Bennett (right) discuss the upcoming season. Dave Sire and the Seminoles' David McCoy in background.

A new addition for 2007 that should generate plenty of excitement will be an real time scoreboard and scoring summary that will appear on the RMFL home page on game Saturday’s throughout the season.  This scoreboard will resemble what many might find on the ESPN web site as each game that day will have a summary box that will update every hour with scores by quarter, as well as a detailed scoring summary that tells visitors when a score occurred, who scored, how long the play and the time left on the clock at the time.  As part of that additional requirement, Neumeier will give teams an additional day to turn in complete stats for games. So game summaries and write-ups may not be posted until Monday night… however, much of the story of each game will be written into the summary box on the home page.

MVP SELECTION CHANGES:

For the first time in years, by a vote of 13-3-5, the Managing Board voted to do away with MVP balloting by players.  GM’s argued that it was just too much hassle for them to pass out ballots and try to collect and send in, when players didn’t seem to know players from other teams in the first place.  MVP’s will, therefore, be decided at the final session of the Managing Board prior to the season-ending all-star game.  “I think we will just have to add a little more time to those meetings, “Neumeier suggested.

GAME RULE CHANGES:

The RMFL voted unanimously to modify AND ENFORCE the league’s “cut blocking” rule so that blocks below the waste would only be allowed in the semi-circle along the offensive line back to the quarterback… in the pocket.  Cut blocks shall be illegal outside of that area (i.e. a fullback leading on a sweep could not cut block an outside linebacker or cornerback coming up to contain). Further, cut-blocking even along the line of scrimmage of a player that is currently engaged with another player shall continue to be illegal and incur the strongest of penalties.  “In fact,” Neumeier said, “if I see tape of a guy going at another guys legs while he if already fighting off another block… or anything that is unnecessary at a guys legs, I will not hesitate to use my office to enforce further penalties on a player. I think the guys know what I’m talking about.

Discussion took place on changing timing rules, however, they will remain the same.  Also, in the event of lightening, it was determined that in the event of lightening and the officials have delayed or currently suspended a game, that teams are required to wait for the officials to approve a resumption in play.  If the game officials are willing to wait for a break, then teams will be required to wait as well.  If the officials approve the resumption of play and either team is either unwilling or unable to continue play, they shall be subject to the league penalties as if the game was forfeited out right.  The RMFL Commissioner shall be contacted immediately if any of the teams feels they can no longer wait for game resumption.

PLAYER MOVEMENT:

The annual hot topic of player movement was brought up again.  The Idaho Falls Mustangs proposed a “free move period” beginning with the end of the all-star game lasting until the RMFL Kick-off meeting where players could freely move from team to team without approval from their previous team.  Commissioner Neumeier, who clearly opposed the idea, suggested that without any penalty at all, the off-season could degenerate into a “free-agent free-for-all” in which the teams with money and incentives could entice enough players to swing the competitive balance as a minimum… and force a number of team foldings as a maximum. After some discussion, the board voted 6-13-2 to leave the rule as it currently states in the constitution which is a “minimum of 3 game suspension” for changing teams without permission (when it does not fall under the approved change rules… a) player moves to new location or b) new team starts up in current location in a non-saturated market).

A proposal by Snake River’s, Jay Hatfield, to allow each player one move between AAA and AA during the season without permission drew some debate.  It was determined that if the player had permission, the rules already allowed that, however, rather than mandating and giving players any free move, it would be in the best interest of the league to leave the rule as it was and let the RMFL Commissioner review any of these sorts of moves on a case by case basis to ensure no “mass amounts of players” exited a given AA or AAA team for a nearby team just because of the rule.

MESSAGE BOARD:

 The Madison Lionz proposed that the RMFL move to a “Registration” message board in lieu of the free-posting non registration message board the league now uses. This would be in attempt to curb some of the personal, spineless attacks that occasionally takes place in the current board.  Although, the managing board as a whole felt that those who “cross the line” need to be banned for sure, the registration board would not sufficiently solve the problem enough to be of a better benefit than the drawbacks of lesser player participation because of the hassle of registration.  The Board voted 5-13-4 against the change.

 

ROSTER LIMIT:

 

The Managing Board voted 11-4-7 to raise the roster limit (allowed to dress for the game) from 60 players to 70.

 

SPORTSMANSHIP CLAUSE:

 

The Managing Board voted by a 9-8-4 margin to add a clause in the RMFL Constitution to state that: “Sideline participation during a regular season or playoff RMFL game by any member of another team is strictly prohibited. Penalty for violation of this sportsmanship rule shall be at the discretion of the RMFL Commissioner based on the nature of degree of the infraction.”

 

RMFL MEETING “WARNING”

 

By a vote of 3-17-1, a proposal to allow for a grace warning for a GM that is late or misses a part of an RMFL meeting was defeated by the RMFL Managing Board.  Board members felt that with the amount of time to plan and determine substitutes for meetings, as well as the potential for wasted time waiting for GM’s to show up, did not validate the allowance of  a “warning” for GM’s who were significantly late or chose to leave early.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 1:30 p.m.