ANNUAL
RMFL KICK-OFF MEETING NOT WITHOUT CONTROVERSY… HOWEVER, ALL IN ALL, 23 TEAMS
LEAVE SATISFIED WITH THE DIRECTION OF THE 2008 SEASON
Feature Story by: Jared Neumeier
Posted: February 9, 2008
RMFL - Every season its something.
Dating back to the first RMFL “Kick-Off” meeting in 2002 when both the Idaho Falls Mustangs and the Snake River Rebels returned to the RMFL after a hiatus of sorts, there has always been a “polarizing” issue to stir up the RMFL Managing board at the kick-off meeting.
In 2008, it was… predictably… Who would be in the AAA.
Ten teams were in the AAA last season.
All else was… Speculation.
To further complicate the issue, the following pieces of information were thrown into the hopper early: 1) the 4-time defending RMFL Champion Rhino-Raiders would not be fielding a team in 2008, 2) the Eastern Idaho Lionz, a perennial AAA team, decimated by player attrition, was understandably dropping down to AA, 3) Bitterroot was planning on resisting a move to the AAA unless it included the Missoula Phoenix… the AA’s #2 team in 2007, who had also earned the right to go AAA.
Managing Board grinds on decision regarding AAA and AA structure.
The problem, however, was that allowing both the
Such was the problems confronting the Managing Board as the Commissioner
brought down the proverbial “gavel” at 6:30 p.m. on Friday night, February 1st,
2008 in
The meeting opened with an opening address by the Commissioner in which he stressed keeping an “open mind” on issues and stressing an emphasis on “getting it right” over “getting it quick”; a policy that had as much to do about the meeting as it had to do with how the new league office would conduct policy throughout the season. New team presentations followed.
It was immediately learned that one of the expected new teams, the Grand
Junction Rhinos, had telephoned the Commissioner at 5:30 p.m. to let him know
that they would not be there, but could perhaps get in by the a.m. session, and
asked the commissioner to present their team.
Thusly, new team presentations were reduced to the Logan Stampede, Strippling Warriors (
Although the Logan Stampede presentation was the only presentation that
included all of the league requested elements, and included a booklet of
information, including a roster for their team, the Stampede were
approved with the smallest number of approvals.
Strippling did not present a roster, field
verification or video and
Logan, who had the most polished presentation, receiving the least amount of discussion, ultimately was approved however, with 13 for votes, 1 no vote and 6 abstain votes. All three teams, however, come into the league on equal standing and now must prove through the season they are capable of following league procedures and fielding a solid product representing the RMFL well.
Commissioner Neumeier, did attempt to present the Grand Junction Rhino team to the board, however, a late e-mail that was expected to contain a full roster and field information as well as all other information that might be important for a presentation turned out to be too lacking for the Managing Board. The Managing Board, although willing to overlook an occasional lack of information from a team that was there to present, was just unwilling to overlook the fact the Grand Junction team, (who admittedly seemed to have the most promise of all of the new teams), was not able to meet ANY of the criteria set forth by new teams, and not being there to answer the questions and prove a certain amount of responsibility and commitment to the league, was declined 1-18-1.
AAA OR AA? After
the admittance of new teams was settled, the Managing Board entered a difficult
and heated discussion regarding the composition of the AAA and AA. Commissioner Neumeier began the discussion by
asking all of the “fringe team” (teams that had some promise or claim to be in
the AAA division) how much they wanted to be in the AAA and how sure they were
to go. Both
Much of the debate, however, revolved around how to get Bitterroot… and
potentially,
The final solution came after all 4 western Idaho teams, Boise, Snake River,
Magic Valley and Idaho all suggested they would be willing to make one road
trip into Montana. With the 4 teams
slated to play home and away games with each other, the one
Three AA divisions would result with the 12 teams. A Northern division to
include Eastern Idaho,
The AA “solution” allowed for all of the teams that were willing to move up…
and had a claim in earning a promotion to move to AAA. All of the teams that moved up,
The AAA scenario resulting from the Managing Board approval would be that
OTHER ISSUES. With Commissioners, Dave Sire (AAA Commissioner) and Ed Cerise (AA Commissioner) taking their separate groups, the AAA voted to play a 6-game playoff beginning June 14th with a Championship game on June 28th. The AA also voted for a 6-team playoff with a championship game on June 28. Due to the odd amount of teams, the AAA would have to begin play on April 5th (rather than the pre-approved April 12th date) and would play a shorter schedule that would include all of the teams that would be getting a bye during the 8 week “core” part of the season beginning April 12th. Both divisions would not have regular season games during the Memorial Day weekend.
The AAA will have a single division of 11 teams, qualifying the top 6 teams with #1 and #2 getting a first round bye.
The AA would have three divisions with each division winner qualifying and the next 3 top teams getting admitted as wild cards. The top two teams would draw a first round bye with the remaining 4 matching up in the first round. As always in the RMFL, being a divisional winner is not a seeding priority. Normal rules of seeding will apply (i.e. won-loss percentage, head-to-head, strength of schedule, points allowed, coin toss).
The 11th Annual All-Star game will be held on July 12th as ALL players and teams will have the 4th of July weekend off.
BUDGET. Commissioner Neumeier presented a proposed budget and then showed the impact of having only 23 teams (instead of the expected 24) in the league. Neumeier expresses a sincere unwillingness to cut any salaries and ultimately, after much discussion, it was All-Star jersey’s that were cut to allow a balanced (planned) budget. A concurrence, however, was reached, that if enough fines and/or sponsorship monies came in during the season, that the all-star jerseys could still be purchased for all-stars at the commissioner’s discretion. The set final league fees at the expected $900. The final budget for 2008 is here: 2008 RMFL Budget.
PLAYING RULES: Newly installed RMFL Head of Officials, Randell Silcox, then lead a final session one discussion regarding the playing rules for the 2008 season. The Managing Board accepted a proposal to CHANGE TO HIGH SCHOOL RULES WITH SOME EXCEPTIONS… It will be up to each team to re-educate their coaches and players as to how those rules differ from what we have been playing and what the exceptions are.
In short, the RMFL will go to a 12-minute clock as timing rules will revert to high school, including stoppage of the clock for all first downs, with the clock re-starting with the set for play.
Newly appointed RMFL Head of Officials, Randell Silcox leads Managing Board in discussion over transitioning game rules to High School with some exceptions.
Ball carriers must be touched or caused to fall by the impetus of a defensive player or they are still alive, hence the RMFL will retain the Down by Contact rule.
The RMFL will retain the 2-minute warning at the end of each half.
Quarterbacks will be allowed to throw the ball away to avoid a sack, if outside of the tackle area as long as the ball reaches the line of scrimmage in or over the field of play. In high school, there always has to be a receiver in the area or the penalty is enforced.
The line of scrimmage shall be governed by the college rule that allows a defensive player to jump into the neutral zone and get back before the ball is snapped without penalty.
The quarterback may only be tackled at or above the waste while in the pocket or not scrambling (i.e. he leaves the pocket but stops and sets to throw). He may only be tackled below the waste while he is running with the ball. The penalty shall be “Roughing the QB” and be 15 yards enforced from the previous spot and an automatic first down. The NFL calls this the “Carson Palmer Rule”. Further, the RMFL will review all such infractions against the quarterback for any further penalties against the offending player.
Celebrations will be allowed as long as the celebration is not directed at opposing players or fans and is not extensive or orchestrated. Examples are spiking after a touchdown, “high-fiving” several teammates at once, flips, etc. would be allowed. It will be a judgment call by the officials if the celebration is extensive or orchestrated. Teams are urged to talk to their players and suggest they not take any chances that would hurt the team. The RMFL encourages players to enjoy the game and “celebrate” quickly after a touchdown or big play, however, then… get with the “team” and play football.
Players and coaches are urged to discuss the new rules with their GM or team representative. Everyone is expected to know and understand the game rules. These full exclusions will be posted to the RMFL web site within the upcoming weeks for reference.
Finally, CONDUCT TOWARDS OFFICIALS WILL BE TREATED UNDER HIGH SCHOOL RULES. The RMFL and its officials will no longer tolerate ANY directly negative or disrespectful comments, particularly vulgarity towards game officials. Players and coaches are expected to retain PERSPECTIVE on what is supposed to be a game… and act with due restraint. Players or coaches who do not feel they are capable of maintaining control should be “urged” by their teammates and/or fellow coaches to leave the playing area until they can come under control. Unsportsmanlike infractions will be issued liberally against players/coaches that don’t seem to “get it”.
According to Commissioner Neumeier, “this does represent in rules and implementation, however, not in philosophy. We have NEVER been for the kind of crap that a few ‘bad apple’ players and even coaches have become over the years. Well, with this shift, they are on warning. The RMFL will move swiftly and decisively to root out these “bad eggs” before they spoil the whole thing for the rest of the guys. It is JUST A GAME.”
Session one ended at 10:55 p.m.
SESSION TWO SUMMARY: Session two is historically primarily a training program regarding league procedures, deadlines and policies. All teams receive a single copy of the current year’s League Handbook. The handbook contains ALL CONTACT information for all teams and RMFL staff. It contains all roster rules, game reporting rules and any policies that apply from the end of the Kick-off meeting until the end of the All-Star game. It also includes the latest version of the RMFL Constitution.
RMFL AA Commissioner, Ed Cerise, leads discussion in split assembly over details of '08 season for the AA.
RMFL AA Commissioner, Dave Sire, chairs session of AAA Board as teams make schedule requests for 2008 Season.
Following the handbook training that ran between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., a training that was conducted by Commissioners Cerise and Sire, the general group re-assembled to discuss how the All-Star teams would be composed and chosen.
With the 4 best AA teams from 2007 moving up to AAA, it was easily argued that the AA would most certainly be left too depleted in overall talent to have another AA vs. AAA all-star game. The AA competed admirably in 2007, however, that was with a much larger player base to choose from. In order to achieve random “mixing” of the two squads, the Managing Board agreed to a complete random pre-determined “mix” of all star players between AA and AAA that would be as follows:
Blue Team:
a.) #1 AAA Team
b.) #2 AA Team
c.) #3 AA Team
d.) #4 AAA Team
e.) #5 AAA Team
f.) #6 AA Team
g.) #7 AA Team
h.) #8 AAA Team
i.) #9 AAA Team
j.) #10 AA Team
k.) #11 AA Team
Red Team:
a.) #1 AA Team
b.) #2 AAA Team
c.) #3 AAA Team
d.) #4 AA Team
e.) #5 AA Team
f.) #6 AAA Team
g.) #7 AAA Team
h.) #8 AA Team
i.) #9 AA Team
j.) #10 AAA Team
k.) #11 AAA Team
l.) #12 AA Team
The selection process would proceed as in previous years as each teams selections would be a composite of coaches rankings of their own players vis-à-vis their respective placing in the division. A general principal will be applied as the #1 teams would get approximately 6 all star selections and the bottom teams getting at least one selection. There may be no lower team getting more selections than a higher team in their division, however, they may get the same amount.
PLAYER MOVEMENT REVISITED. Expected to be a potentially controversial topic, the new player movement rule, proposed by Commissioner Neumeier in August of 2007 and approved by the Managing Board via e-mail, was re-visited. There was, however, no controversy at all. The Managing Board, in general, seemed to feel as if the new rule, which provides a “free move window” for ALL players seemed to solve for all issues. Players have the freedom they demand, however, GM’s also have the ability to protect themselves… and, if they lose players anyway, at least will now know well in advance so they can plan ahead. The new player movement rule was re-approved unanimously and is now implemented into the web sites version of the constitution.
The meeting adjourned at 12:05 p.m.