“COFFEE WITH THE COMMISH: THE OFF-SEASON”;

A Q&A TACKLING THE LATEST ISSUES OF THE RMFL

Posted: Friday, October 12, 2007

Written by: Mort Snodgrass

RMFL – It is, after all, a LOOOOONNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG off-season for the RMFL faithful, so it stands to reason that tossing out a few bones of information for the players and fans to gnaw on would be a good idea… if not an absolute requirement. So, in that vein, the RMFL’s well-funded writing staff set out to, once again, corner RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier, to find out the latest “poop” regarding this off-season, the issues, the teams and the plans for 2008. Well, it took a while, but as we enter the prime meridian phase of the off-season, we found him… seemingly much more relaxed… looking almost 20 years younger, as ready to ‘strap it up again’ as he is to run the RMFL for his 9^th season. As always in these morning interviews, he did have to get a cup of hot coffee before the interview, however, otherwise we’d have to change the title of the Q&A.

M.S.: You look to be enjoying the off-season. What is different about this one that seems to find you, I don’t know… more relaxed?

J.N. This is the first off-season that I can look into the next season with a FAR reduced role. Doing what I do from March to July is a very taxing job. The pay just doesn’t justify the aging it causes (ha ha). Not that I worry for guys like Ed Cerise or Dave Sire (the new Commissioner’s), because they won’t have to go through anything near what I’ve had to do, since they will be splitting up about 75% of what I did, so they will be doing something like 37.5% of what I was doing… a much more manageable workload.

M.S. Now that you are this much closer to turning the league over completely, do you see that happening in the near future?

J.N. Yes. Although I’m not sure what “near future” means. In 2009 I would like to have a Montana AA Commissioner and if we ever have a Colorado Conference, obviously, we would want a AA Commissioner for that area as well. I think I will try to resist the strong call of permanent retirement from any RMFL responsibilities until the final and enduring league structure is established and a leader… far greater than me steps forward… probably from the ranks of today’s players..

M.S. You think the eventual overall Commissioner who will replace you is one of today’s players?

J.N. Well, bear in mind that I really have no idea who it will eventually be, however, I believe this position requires someone who understands players, coaches, GM’s and fans… and, of course, has some of the other necessary qualifications (like organization, leadership, attention to detail, commitment to integrity, etc.). Who better then for the job than someone that basically “grew up” in the RMFL?

M.S. Sorry, I think we got off on a tangent. I really didn’t mean to get into a conversation about THAT far in the future. Back to script. What do you think was the biggest lesson learned from 2007!?

J.N. Oooh, wow, I’d have to think about that. It was a while ago and I’m already getting into 2008 mode… Oh, let me go with the whole “who is in AAA and who is in AA” issue. I learned that I HAVE to take a more active role in that agenda. The way the vote went down to put the Seminoles in the AAA was not right. Too much politics and too much teams looking out for their own interests over the interests of the league in that one. The Seminoles were a decent team; they certainly proved to have quality players that could win, but our AAA needs to be about teams that have PROVED they can not only compete, but put on a quality product. Outside of Cache Valley, a new team coming in and going to AAA is going to be an extremely RARE exception… an exception that the Commissioner will have to approve before the Managing Board will even get a chance to vote on it.

M.S. So what of the Seminoles. I’ve heard they have folded, but their web site doesn’t say that and some of their players seem confused?

J.N. I haven’t heard anything officially, however, as far as the RMFL goes, I am treating them as if they have folded. As a new team last season they exhausted their $500 new team deposit in fines and then racked up fines on top of that. If they come back next season, they would have to petition as a new team, pay a deposit on top of the league fees and outstanding fines. Nate Cone, who helped them considerably driving them into enfranchisement last season is no longer part of their “management” and I don’t think they have what it takes to be back… or the desire to do so. Right now, I see the RMFL with 20 teams.

M.S. What new teams do you know of coming in for 2008? Last season, the Seminoles were the only new team to apply? Has the rapid expansion of the RMFL finally subsided?

J.N. (laughs hysterically).

M.S. What is it?

J.N. (can’t seem to stop laughing hysterically. Starts to stop, get serious… then starts laughing again).

M.S. Ahem. This is getting old!

J.N. (Finally stops long enough to talk). Sorry. Its just that I have NEVER seen so many new teams present themselves in ANY off-season in the past. In fact, I may have to re-think the Kick-off meeting agenda to handle all of the new teams that may be presenting.

M.S. Wow!!! That many?

J.N. Well, lets go state by state. In Montana, Knights GM, Ron LaTray has moved to Havre and is starting a new team there. Will Wheat takes over the Knights, so they will still be around. Another team is starting up north of Missoula and south of Kalispell and I’m pretty sure they will take off. There are players getting a Bozeman team together and I was contacted by two different guys that are promising a Billings team. I was also aware that someone was going to try to get organized in Butte. At maximum, that’s 6 new Montana teams… there will probably be at least 3. Which means even with Bitterroot going AAA, there will still be a very full and active conference.

In Idaho, I do expect the Speed to go AA and join the Matadors, Sabercats and Bulldawgs… but there are at least two efforts to start up new teams in Nampa, Meridian and thereabouts. There could be 6 AA teams in Western Idaho in 2008

In Utah, a new Logan AA team has been announced, I’ve had several contacts from new Salt Lake area teams and there looks to be a new team coming out of Duschesne/Heber area in’08. Its still early, though…

In Colorado, I have been contacted by both a Denver area team that is interested in becoming part of the RMFL and the Colorado Scorpions (Grand Junction), may be making a move back to the playing field. I did inform the Denver team that their admission would be difficult unless there were at least a couple other Denver area teams (at least 4 in Colorado)… so, who knows?

Bottom line, with 3 months to the January kickoff meeting, we could be looking at evaluating anywhere from 5 – 15 new teams for ’08. Stay posted.

M.S. Are we losing anyone… besides the Seminoles (maybe) that you know of?

J.N. At this point, I’d so no. I know that the Vipers are losing quite a few quality players, but I can’t say there isn’t plenty of time to find other players to step up. However, it might end up being enough to spell the end of that franchise. I also know the Lionz will lose a good bunch… which they do each year, but this might be the worst and might even drop them into AA discussions… or worse, a year out of the RMFL. Everyone else seems to be standing mostly pat, including the 4-time defending champion, Rhinos. After toying with passing on team management, indications are that Dave Stireman will still be back running the team… and probably playing as well.

M.S. What do you see as the composition of the AAA/AA next season; based on what you know now?

J.N. Actually that’s the hardest question you have asked so far. The FOR SURE AAA teams will be: Predators, Mustangs, Rhino-Raiders, Bears, Wolverines, Heat, Muddogs (name to be changed) and AA Champion, Blaze. That’s it. As I said, the Seminoles have folded (effectively), the Speed earned their way into AA with a winless 2007 and there is a real concern that the small-townl, over-achieving Lionz will drop into Morgan Marauderville. This will leave the board with a few options. WE could just leave the AAA at 8 teams or we would be looking at 2 more. Of course, there is still a chance that the Lionz will be back as a true competitor… at least to “earn” their way into the AA as Boise did. But other possible AAA teams would be the Missoula Phoenix or the Boise Speed. As the Lionz may argue they are too depleted to compete, the Speed might argue that they have “filled their holes” and will be back (they did after all, miss several key defensive players for much of the season). It might be a simple matter of dropping the Seminoles and adding the Blaze. Just a lot of unknown between now and then .

M.S. How is the new “Player Movement Rule” working out. I haven’t heard too much about it (officially) since it was approved and implemented?

J.N. Quite honestly… it’s been pretty quiet. Which is exactly how I like it! There were only 4 teams that submitted “protected lists” before the September 21^st deadline (Sabercats, Matadors, Knights and Marauders). Since then, even the Sabercats withdrew their list, which I will only allow during the free move anyway period, meaning we only have 3 teams with active protected lists. The big deal, however, is that there is no big deal. I have not really been inundated with a rash of player free agency requests. Just a handful from some Vipers players… and that’s about it.

M.S. Wow… You said you would “only allow a GM to withdraw their list during the free move period”. Why? Why couldn’t he do it later, like in February even?

J.N. One of the reasons I favored this system and helped propose it is that it eliminates the GM from the equation. Once the list is submitted, the GM no longer can be “pressured” into releasing players outside of the structure of the penalty system. If the player is legitimately on the list and he applies for a team transfer during the penalty period, the penalty will automatically be enforced. No argument, no appeal, no message board bull crap to make the GM look bad. It will just be the way it is. They can always blame the GM for putting in the list in the first place, but it will do no good to belabor the point. In some ways I wish they would have ALL put in lists… and in some ways its obviously better if none of them do. I guess we’ll see just how many players really stay up on the rules and really do want to leave their current team that much.

M.S. You kind of caught me off guard. I really expected to ask several follow-up and leading questions on this player movement thing. Right now it doesn’t sound like such a big deal. I guess the real off-season issues are the new management changes that will take effect and the influx of new teams. What if the AA ends up with 18 teams and the AAA only 10?

J.N. Then the AA Commissioner will just make that much more money. He’ll, after all, have that much more work. But like I said, I’d like to get a Montana commish set up for ’09. If we end up with the WHOLE CFC in ’08, then I’m sure we would need a regional commissioner there… as soon as this season. I’m not quite sure how we would work it, but we got a lot of smart people around… I’m sure we’d figure it out..

M.S. Well, I guess I’d better be wrapping this up. What about the NFL. How about your Raiders?

J.N. It’s still too early to get too excited, but I at least feel like I’ll be rooting for them to win in December, rather than lose to get the best possible draft pick. It’s always more enjoyable if your team is in playoff contention in December.

M.S. Do you predict anything different than the “experts”. Anyone other than New England or Indy for the AFC and Dallas or … I don’t know who else in the NFC?

J.N. I don’t see any team even close to the level of the Colts or Pats in the AFC. In the NFC… who knows? I saw Dallas play Buffalo, they are no shoe-in by any means. Look for the Giants or Eagles to make a great second half run. I actually think it will be one of those teams being spanked by New England or Indianapolis in the Super Bowl.

M.S. How come your fantasy team sucks?

J.N. Unless you are in a league of idiots (which the RMFL league is not), luck plays a very big factor in Fantasy Football. We all stay reasonably up. We all drafted using much of the same info and projections. Injuries and the vagaries of the game play a big factor.

M.S. What!?!?!!?

J.N. It’s just a fancy way of saying I suck.

M.S. So what are your plans for the next 3 months?

J.N. Sunday, I’m heading to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for 8 days. I hope to come back ready and refreshed. Hopefully, I’ll still remember that I am commissioner. For those of you who write me e-mails… be patient. I’ll get to you by and by..

M.S. Will you do this again… before the kick-off meeting??

J.N. You mean the Coffee with the Commish Q&A? Naw… You all can just look for articles and updates on the front page. By the end of the month, I’ll update the map on the front page for 2008 as well as build a sub menu for “prospective teams’ with their web sites and links… if they have them.

M.S. Thanks again for your time… and sip an extra Umbrella covered fruity rum drink for me!!

J.N. I may just have to do that….