“COFFEE WITH THE COMMISH: 2008 PRE-SEASON”;

A Q&A TACKLING THE LATEST ISSUES OF THE RMFL

Posted: Wednesday, April 02, 2008

Written by: Mort Snodgrass

RMFL – FINALLY!!! After a long, difficult, COLD and WET off-season, the first RMFL kick-off in a game that counts is but hours away. Eight AAA teams will be squaring off on April 5^th with the remaining teams starting no later than a week later on April 12^th. The league lost one team in the off-season, 4-time defending champion South Ogden Rhino-Raiders, and picked up 3 more: Uintah Basin Oilers, Logan Stampede and the Stripling Warriorz. The AAA field increased to 11 teams and every RMFL team will have 8 regular season games. But… these are all just numbers. For the proverbial “story behind the story” the crack RMFL writing staff, once again, cornered RMFL Commissioner, Jared Neumeier to get his take on a review of the off-season and what he is expecting in the upcoming season as well as other issues, including his rapidly expanding RMFL staff.

M.S.: With this being your 8^th season as RMFL Commissioner and 9^th running the league, how would you rate this past off-season… as far as issues and/or controversies?

J.N. Pretty quiet actually. We initially had a big referendum regarding player movement (back in August), however, that was overwhelmingly passed and underwhelming-ly significant as very few players really cared to take advantage of their new-found freedom. We found out that, when push comes to shove, players are more or less happier where they are then changing teams. The biggest player movement was players from the Rhino-Raiders changing teams.

M.S. What about that. Isn’t that kind of a big issue or at least a big surprise? The defending champions not coming back?

J.N. As the commissioner, I get to be privy to things that are going on that most of the league isn’t aware of. The Rhino-Raiders closing shop (at least for this season) has been a long time coming. I think that Dave Stireman, the Rhinos owner and head coach, has talked about it to varying degrees for the past couple of years. Almost the full load of running the team has fallen on him and he was getting progressively burned out. Plus, like many of us older players, he has family issues and demands that he was growing anxious to answer. So… no, I wasn’t terribly surprised. I like seeing some of those players trying different teams… it would have been nicer if they went to more different teams, regardless, without the Rhino-Raiders it does cast the 2008 season in a much different light.

M.S. So what do you predict for the 2008 season?

J.N. It’s a little early in the interview to pop that one out there, isn’t it? Shouldn’t that big the “zinger” you end this thing on?

M.S. Sorry, just got caught up a little. The season IS only a few days away and I think we are all anxious to read your previews of the teams. How is that coming?

J.N. See, you ARE delirious with expectations; as you know, I won’t be writing those previews this year. The RMFL now has divisional Commissioners that will be analyzing and previewing and predicting their respective leagues. Dave Sire is reporting on the AAA and Ed Cerise is reporting on the AA.

M.S. That’s right! How is that going for them?

J.N. The AAA previews have been written and after some formatting and “décor” work I’m doing on them will be published later today. Ed Cerise is still in the middle of the AA previews which we will release next week. He is hampered by the fact that some of the teams’ submittals were pathetically inferior. A few teams just sent in a list of projected starters with ABSOLUTELY NO INFORMATION about their guys. It’s like these teams don’t know even know their own players. I’ve suggested that he require a re-submittal from some of them. We have 3 completely new teams in the AA with a lot of new players to the league. With no more information than that, you can only expect that these teams will struggle mightily… even in the AA..

M.S. What do YOU see as each of the commissioner’s biggest concerns for 2008?

J.N. Both guys have different challenges. For Dave Sire, who probably has the easiest of the two jobs, it will come the first time there is a questionable hit that leads to injury. Reluctantly, the Cache Valley Bears defensive tackle, Amos Fiefia was re-instated to the league after serving a suspension and almost no one I’ve talked to believes that he has learned his lesson. There seems to be a general belief that there are football players that get “cheap play” hard-wired into their psyche. Of course, we all hope that Amos can play straight and has learned his lesson, but there is a concern that there might be another one out there.

M.S. Wow! Isn’t that a little, I don’t know, “politically incorrect”, to single out a particular player like that? Hasn’t he “done his time” and should, therefore, be given the benefit of the doubt… and left alone?

J.N. Maybe… probably. However, when it comes to cheap play and protecting our players, I don’t give a rat’s rump about “political correctness”. I will make it clear that ANY player that I deem is conducting themselves in such a way as to even seem to be simply attempting to injure a fellow player… regardless of whether it was within… or without the rules will not be playing in this league That being said, of course, the process will be to challenge an action by a player via the appropriate commissioner first (Sire or Cerise) and DEFINITIVE video tape is a must… but, if it’s all there, I’ll make sure that player is done. Just for this reason, we have encouraged ALL TEAMS to continue to tape each game, and if possible, with more than one camera… especially against any team that there may be players that don’t respect the integrity of the sport.

M.S. Are you mentioning any team in particular?

J.N. No. Honestly… no. That’s a message for all teams. Probably every team, AAA and AA, may have a player that is capable of losing control or “trying something”. I expect all teams to talk to their players and manage that internally… before it could ever become a league issue..

M.S. Back to the original question. What issues do you see Ed Cerise facing that will be the most difficult?

J.N. I’ll quickly first point out one more concern for Sire and the AAA. I have a concern for the Seminoles. There seems to be some management issues with that team. They have missed a number of required deadlines already and are heading down a path that will have them forfeiting games and/or getting nailed with A LOT of fines. Someone on that organization needs to step up and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

Now…to the AA. The Montana and Idaho teams and Morgan will be just fine. These are experienced league teams with good management that correspond well with the league and are a joy to work with. Each of the new teams have had some kind of issues to overcome… not to mention, they all need to learn how to follow league requirements well. Although both Logan and Uintah Basin seem to be more or less squared away, I’m still a little concerned for the Stripling team. We’ve already seen situations with them where we go weeks without them responding to correspondence. They have missed a number of deadlines and have already been fined $200 for various deadline related issues. They still need to get goal posts for a field, get it lined to specifications and get jerseys by their first game. Their GM and Coach, Kaisa Kinikini is a great, stand-up guy, but not everything is in his control. To exacerbate that, he and/or those helping him have proven to be deficient in league communications. These are all red flags that often lead to bigger problems later. You can only drive your car around so long with smoke pouring out of the engine… eventually that car is going to break down. Ed Cerise has to manage the smoke and hopefully get it stopped before someone breaks down. So, the AA issues will be making sure that the home teams report to the Saturday scoreboard properly, get their stats submitted before deadlines… and read and understand their freaking e-mails! J .

M.S. How about the rest of the RMFL “staff”?

J.N. I’m getting more and more excited about the web staff… Travis Hobson and James Von Gunten. I’d still like to see Travis take more initiative with improvements on the front page and getting an improved Scoreboard look up and running. However, there is VAST potential there and he is just starting. I think the RMFL got really lucky there. We’ll find out just how well these guys work together this Saturday when the scoreboard will premier and we’ll see how it goes. I’m more concerned about Marketing. I haven’t heard back from messages in weeks from Ken Perkins. At this point, I believe that we may have no help from Marketing income for 2009. I really hope I’m wrong, but we’ll find out soon enough. Our Treasure, Trent Sutton is THE BEST, I just have to do the annual off-season dance of talking him back into returning to his role for the league (ha ha). With the RMFL going to L.L.C status, I think we will both sleep better and maybe the next off-season bribe won’t have to be as high! Randell Silcox has absolutely taken the “bull by the horns” as Head of Officials and I’m expecting a really smooth season… especially since the league went to High School rules with only a few exceptions in the off season.

M.S. Do you think going to High School Rules… with exceptions, will confuse some teams/coaches. Won’t there be some controversy there?

J.N. Absolutely, I do expect some initial controversy as OUR teams learn the High School rules. Heck, I don’t even know all the vagaries of high school rules vis a vis the rules we have been running under. Fortunately, football is still football and the primary game is still the same. I would expect every team and every coaching staff to have spent some time over the past couple of months getting familiar with the high school rule and timing enforcement. If our coaches are arguing with an official about a high school enforcement during the game, my money is going to be WAY on the guy that refs high school games regularly. We will make it clear to our coaches… and players… that not only game rules from high school will be enforced… but also rules regarding treatment of officials will be enforced. Coaches, and probably even more importantly so, players are going to have to mellow out….

M.S. How are you adjusting to a more “limited role” with so many others now doing what you have been doing for so long?

J.N. Well, I sure haven’t missed the extra pay I would have gotten, if that tells you anything. Although for this transition year I’m still having to jump in and do things that I envisioned the new staff doing, like doing some web site updates and writing articles, but its still been nice. I trust the people that are taking over the RMFL, though and it’s the right thing to move towards a more cooperative effort on managing the RMFL. I’m impressed with the new set of leaders we have that have come in. There is some real potential in those ranks for a commissioner that may ultimately take over what I am doing now. For now, however, I’m happy to just manage the helm and “nudge” the ship one way or another if it gets a little of course.

M.S. Okay… NOW can I ask? What are your predictions for 2008?

J.N. Okay… I suppose. I’ve just about drained my cup of coffee and its getting cold anyway. Understand, however, with these predictions that I am not getting any of the information that the Commissioners (Dave Sire and Ed Cerise) get when they make their predictions… so I am a lot more likely to be waaaaaaayyyyyy off. So, for whatever it’s worth:

AA: I expect the 3 top teams to be the Boise Speed, Idaho Matadors and Helena Titans. These teams will be in the playoffs for sure. Then I see a group of mid-level teams lead by Magic Valley. I think that Magic Valley will be one of the 6 play-off teams and Morgan will make it for sure from a weak South division. This leaves Eastern Idaho, Great Falls … and, perhaps Glacier to battle for the final playoff spot. I don’t know that Snake River will really be built up enough to compete, especially after losing their best player (Collingwood) to the Speed. The 3 new Utah teams are unknowns, but I think that Logan might have a decent shot at competing for the playoffs. Success for Uintah Basin and Stripling will be on the basis of making it through a full season and having some great games. You have to think there is some real parity in Utah when you are favoring Morgan as the best of the 4 Utah teams. I think Boise and Helena will get the first round byes and I’ll guess that it will be the Lionz making it in as the 6^th team. Morgan will probably host Magic Valley and the Lionz will probably host Idaho. I’ll say that the Lionz and Magic Valley advance. I’ll predict that both Boise and Helena hold serve in the first round with Boise hosting and winning the ultimate AA title. I’m a bit more certain regarding the AA than I am the AAA, especially regarding Boise and Helena. The biggest wild card (to me) is the Lionz. Right now they have a team that will struggle to win early and may not even make the playoffs. However, for whatever reason, players seem to materialize in that area and they may get a lot better by mid-season.

AAA: Similar to the AA, there are 4 teams that I believe will be playoff bound for certain. Cache Valley, Idaho Falls, Wolverines and Utah Heat… not necessarily in that order. Instincts, however, would favor Cache Valley and the Wolverines, but I’ll take a flyer and say that it could just as easily be Idaho Falls and the Heat. Bitterroot seems to be the next most likely playoff team, however, Missoula improved a bunch in the off-season and Bitterroot will have two rivalry games with them and 3 decent road trips. Same for Missoula. Don’t count out either Montana team, I’m pretty sure ONE of them will make the playoffs. The 6^th playoff team will either be the Predators, Shock, Vipers or Rockets (and yes, I do give the Rockets a decent chance at making it). The only team that I don’t give much chance (right now) is the Seminoles. That’s not for lack of talent… but lack of organization. If they get those issues figured out, you can toss them in with the other 4. I don’t see both Montana teams making it; it will be one or the other (particularly if they sweep the season series with the other)… favoring the defending AA champs. My gut tells me that it will come down to the Predators and the Shock with a healthy play-making Kjar. Remember, when the Shock were the Muddogs (and Kjar had a full year), they ran the table… against the Vipers and Rockets. The Predators have some great organization and Jordan Peterson will be in his second season. It will be a shame that it will likely be only one of the two young quarterbacks in the playoffs… but, we’ll see. Assuming those 6 are playoff teams (Bears, Mustangs, Wolverines, Heat, Blaze and Predators). I’ll go on a limb and predict that it will be the Wolverines and Mustangs with first round byes. Cache Valley hosts Bitterroot and the Heat host Pocatello in the first round. If Bitterroot is fully healthy, they have a real chance, but you HAVE to “predict” the Bears and that great defense. If both the Heat and Pocatello are healthy, the Heat would prevail at home. I’ll say that Idaho Falls hosts Cache Valley and the Wolverines host the Heat. I’ll predict the Heat upset the Wolverines but the retooled Mustangs get the win at home over the Bears (note… Bears predictions assumes that Caleb Eastman is not back playing for them…as a starter). Although in this scenario I’ll finish my prediction with the Mustangs winning at home against a road weary Heat squad, it’s important to note that its not just hot air suggesting that the top 4 are VERY close. The Mustangs start each season on the road and they have the worst climate to practice in early… hence, oftentimes a slow start. If they don’t gel quickly against some tough opponents, they could drop quickly and either be out of the playoffs or playing it all on the road. If a Utah team hosts the Mustangs (Predators, Bitterroot or Missoula) for the Championship, they will be favored and I’ll say win. If it’s the other way around… go with the home team in Idaho or Montana. Exciting stuff!!.

M.S. I guess all we have to do now… is sit back and enjoy, eh… except for you, I guess. Don’t see many games in California, do you?

J.N. Actually, I’m moving back to Idaho Falls later in April! I’ll be seeing A LOT of RMFL action this season. Everyone should expect to see a lot more of the Commish in 2008!

M.S. Wow!! That is news! Congratulations!! Does that mean you will be taking back some of your “old jobs” and going back to Full time Commissioner?

J.N. (Chuckles) Naw. Departmentalizing the RMFL had a lot less to do with me moving or being “burned out” than it just making sense. We had a situation where too much was counted on by one person. If something happened to that one person, the league would be hurt. With this set up, if any one of the staff needed time off or had a personal issue or problem, there is someone trained and ready that can take over for a spell. With the work a lot better spread out, there is a lot less chance of anyone getting burned out. Hopefully, the whole staff can enjoy their roles this season. Its an honor to serve this league… to honor this game.

M.S. Thanks again for your time… looking forward to seeing you… “at the game”!!

J.N. Can’t wait….!!!