NEWS AROUND THE LEAGUE!

FIELD OF 2008 TEAMS BECOMING MORE CLEAR AS KICK-OFF MEETING DRAWS NEAR

Feature Story by: Jared Neumeier

Posted: Monday, January 28, 2008

RMFL – It’s not exactly the NFL, but it doesn’t mean our off-season’s can’t be interesting, too.

As the RMFL Kick-Off meeting draws to but hours away, the intrigue coming in just grows more and more interesting.

Is it really possible that both of the teams that vied for consecutive RMFL titles in 2005 and 2006, the Lionz and Rhino-Raiders will both not be fielding teams in ’08?

Is it really possible that the Bitterroot Blaze, who routed their AA competition in 2007, scoring 429 points to only giving up 20… including the playoffs could be back in the AA?

Could the Vipers, who begged off the AAA promotion in 2007 after finishing 2nd, actually petition to go AAA in 2008 after finishing effectively 3^rd in the AA?

Will there be a new team in Montana? Who are the Grand Junction Rhinos?

These and many more questions seem to keep surfacing as teams begin lining up for play in 2008. Many of these questions may be answered within the next few days, with most of them, however, having to wait until Friday night.

One of the biggest unsettling situations heading into the meeting is what will be the composition of the AAA field. If, in fact the Rhino-Raiders do not field a team in 2008 AND the Lionz drop to AA or take a year off themselves AND there isn’t another Montana team… almost forcing the Blaze to stay AA… where does that leave the RMFL and its highest level of play? Unlike some, I do feel as if there should still continue to be a AAA level. Without two levels, there are several teams that would enter each season with ZERO chance of competing for a championship. Distinguishing two levels of play… and upper level and a “developmental” level allow teams to come in without having to face top teams their first year and learn to grow as an organization, without (hopefully) abject humiliation.

Besides, we now have commissioners for two levels and they are both primed to lead the RMFL into the next millennium.

Obvious returning teams are: Cache Valley, Utah Wolverines, Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Utah Heat, Utah Shock and… nope, that’s about it, of the for sure’s.

We had 10 teams in the AAA last season. Boise went 0-9 and is the automatic drop down to AA. The Lionz will definitely NOT be AAA. The Lionz will be AA if they field a team in ’08 at all. The Rhino-Raiders are on the cusp of a decision and seem to be leaning towards taking the season off (at least) and the Seminoles haven’t been heard from in months. Does that paint a clear enough picture?

So, let’s start with those 6 teams and I’ll suggest, by way of percentages, the chances of which teams will join them at the highest level.

1. Salt Lake Seminoles. 90%. Not having heard from them is not to say they are not intending to compete. They missed the league registration deadline, but the final deadline is really Friday night. Nate Cone and Dave McCoy seem to have patched up their differences and are back on the same page. McCoy seems to have a solid financial base and they didn’t do anything last season to lose their field deal with Granite. Yet, without communications from what turned out to be a “loosely run” organization in 2007, amassing a total of $600 in fines for the season, there are no guarantees here.

2. Davis Vipers. 80%. That’s right, I did say “Davis” Vipers and I’m quite happy to. Enough of this “we don’t really herald from anywhere in particular” way of naming a team. Our sponsors look at our non area designated team names and think we have to be “kidding”. So, the Davis Vipers are set to play at Davis high school and call it home. They are also re-stocking and confident they will be ready for the AAA in ’08… if the Rhinos are not back. They both share the same recruiting area and the Vipers may benefit from some of the Rhinos choosing to play for another RMFL team. Further, this team is located properly right in the middle of the AAA field. I’m sure if they want to join AAA, especially in light of the diminishing field, they will make it easily.

3. Boise Speed. 75%. I have not doubt that, when healthy, the Boise Speed have a much better team that they showed last season. I also, however, have no doubt that they have been salivating over the schedule that would result if they were dropped to the AA. I don’t mean to suggest that they are salivating over weaker competition as much as the promise of a real decent travel schedule. Ever since Boise has been in the RMFL, they have been one of the teams that have had the greatest incidence of travel over any other team in the league. By the time they finally had a few nearby teams, the league went to the AAA/AA format. After going 0-9 in 2007, they’ve certainly “earned” their spot in the AA. If they decided to stay with that spot, I don’t think anyone could blame them. I also know, however, there are a good number of talented and proud players on that team who would love to prove themselves in the AAA. I don’t think they fear any of the teams and with some improvement in a few key areas could be a AAA playoff team.

4. Bitterroot Blaze. 50%. The AA Champion, Blaze’s, immanent induction into the AAA has taken a lot of twists and turns and changes of thought… and that’s just out of southwest Montana. I saw the Blaze play and I guarantee this is a AAA level team, both in organization and talent. Remember, just last year they outscored opponents 429 to 20! That is an average game score of 43 to 2. This is domination not seen since the early years of the South Ogden Rhino Raiders. If Bitterroot were located in Burley or Malad, Idaho there wouldn’t even be a question of where they played. This is a solid football team from top to bottom that flat out would beat any of the above mentioned teams. However, they are in Montana and traveling to the towns of other AAA teams is a concern. The concern, however, isn’t nearly as warranted as some might suggest. They would not have “4 Utah trips” and would, in fact, probably only have 2 Utah trips. Of course those are pretty good trips to take. But what complicates the equation even more than that is that if there are no new Montana teams entering the field (i.e. the Gallatin Valley Mountaineers don’t come through), then how do you reduce the Montana AA conference down to 4 teams? The issue of Bitterroot playing with AAA competition has all the makings of being a big battle, however, I for one, believe they just need to go AAA. This not only allows the league to be consistent with their policy of “graduating” the AA champion, but it gives the other AA teams in Montana a chance to feel like if they just improve a little… they have a chance. If that means there are only 4 Montana teams and some of them have to play other teams 3 times, I say we do it. Bitterroot may contend (and I’m not sure what their official position will be when the meeting rolls around) that they cannot afford the travel. We can certainly schedule to minimize the impact, however, it will be significant… at least in ’08. Hopefully, the two to four other Montana teams that were getting ready for entry in ’08 will materialize in ’09 and AAA play can start to spread in other parts of Montana. For now, I don’t think its in anyone’s best interest to have the Blaze blow out team after team week after week.

5. Bear River Valley. 30%. Although Missoula is certainly the next best team to consider, the Rockets are in the ideal location to play at the AAA level and… they have a pretty good team. They have a quarterback that can lead a passing attack and they have some solid players on all sides of the ball. They would put up a good effort but I don’t think they could beat any of the above mentioned teams. Perhaps, however, they have picked up some new talent in the off-season and are more confident in their team for ’08 than I suggest.

6. Rhino-Raiders. 25%. This is the percent chance I am at today as to their fielding a team in ’08. If they field one, they are in… and a favorite to defend their title. I think Stireman is leaning against returning a team, but I don’t think he has yet to exhaust all hope on returning the team to the field. I wouldn’t bet on it… but I wouldn’t even be remotely surprised if they are in… and good.

7. Idaho Matadors. 10%. I think this option only presents itself if ALL of the above named teams don’t come thru, except for the Speed. There is no sense promoting the Matadors if the Speed aren’t even in the AAA. If, however, the Speed go AAA AND non of the other teams are in play, then it makes sense to look at this pretty decent team as the rebuild from the disaster of a couple of years ago.

8. Missoula Phoenix. 5%. Of course, this team should be considered. They proved to be the 2^nd best AA team last season with a big road playoff win over the Vipers. However, all of the complications with travel for the Blaze are also there for the Phoenix. I do give this a chance, however, but ONLY IF the Gallatin Valley team comes thru AND the Blaze are in the AAA. A schedule could easily be devised that would have Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Bitterroot and Missoula all in a division with a home and away set. This would give both Bitterroot and Missoula a home and away with each other (rivals) and 2 road games in Idaho and only one road game in Utah. This hinges on the Mountaineers getting in AND several other options from above not coming thru AND the Phoenix being open to the scenario… which may not be the case.

9. Eastern Idaho Lionz. 1%. This is the chance of a miracle and within the next few days, Troy Dougherty announces he will play after all in ’08 and a host of former Lionz greats decides to keep playing. Other than that, let’s just hope they can field a solid AA team.

It will be interesting to see how developments occur going into the league meeting, but the biggest question will come with the decision by Dave Stireman and the Rhino-Raiders. I believe that if the Rhino-Raiders are not in, it may cause some of the fringier teams to be more interested in “moving up”, although teams like Cache Valley, the Utah Wolverines Mustangs all proved to be more than a match for the defending champions, with the Mustangs and Wolverines both recording regular season victories.

Not getting much attention at all is the potential addition of another Grand Junction team. I certainly hope that this Managing Board gives them all the chance in the world to be in the league. Paul Erman, the owner and GM, shows a lot of potential as a manager to generate sponsorships and capital and the team should be the most well-funded team ever to come out of that area. This should equate to a much better traveling squad as the cost of transportation would be handled by the team management. Unlike Montana, Grand Junction is a significantly shorter trips for Utah teams, having only to travel 4-5 hours depending upon which team must go. Like any team, the Rhinos need to prove they have covered their bases and I have mentioned more than once an urgency that they get a web site set up (which we should see before the meeting), but they are likely going to be a positive experience for the league, including a big stadium and a dance team… now who does that sound like…?

Yes, the Lionz have lost plenty of players and there is little or no chance for them to repeat past glories in 08 as they have done for so many years past. Anyone with the remotest knowledge of the geography and census of southeast Idaho should not be surprised, either. In fact, its simply amazing that they have put together the teams they have. Rexburg, Idaho, where they draw most of their talent is a town no bigger than Nephi, Utah. It does have a small college, but it’s a small college without intercollegiate sports. Guys don’t go there because they are star athletes, they go there for an education. The “fall of the Lionz” was long overdue. They do maintain a small dedicated core and an owner in Jason Stucki that wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he didn’t have a team to run in the spring… so lets just hope to see the Lionz in the AA.

In case no one has noticed, there are already 3 of the “prospective” new teams that have fallen off the charts and have officially announced they will NOT be petitioning for entrance in ’08. Treasure Valley, who was never really a serious contender for a full team anyway, the Utah Rebels and the Hi-Line Jackals have all withdrawn from consideration. That leaves, as of today, only Gallatin Valley (Montana), Logan, Uintah Basin, Strippling, and Grand Junction as new teams petitioning for ’08. I am sure that Uintah Basin, Strippling, Grand Junction and Logan will be there. I’m not as sure about Gallatin Valley.

Probably the most important team of the new teams to get in is Gallatin Valley. They hail out of the Bozeman, Montana area, which is probably the closest town to northern Idaho and their admittance allows more flexibility regarding the AAA field. Further, Montana is the one area with the most potential for expansion. Gallatin Valley has announced they will be meeting Tuesday night (January 29^th) to make a final decision for ’08. One of the greatest games I even played was against the Bozeman Kodiaks and I, for one, would love to see a Bozeman contingent. I sincerely hope, on many levels, that they will be able to break in this season and start getting Montana football where it needs to be.

I’m hoping after reading this article, someone from the Salt Lake Seminoles will contact the Commissioner and let them know they will be there for sure. Usually, in this league, no news is NOT good news. The Seminoles, however, must not only pay the $900 league fee, but owe $100 in fine money from 2007 AND, because they burned through their entire $500 new team deposit last season in fines, must tender another $500 deposit this season… Hopefully they are in… and can prove they learned their “administrative” lessons from ’08.

There is still a “wild card” that may get thrown into the field for ’08. Although it won’t impact the whole “who will be in the AAA” question, it might lead to another AA team. The Cache Valley Bears were in discussions with the group starting up the Logan Stampede for an “arrangement” that would lead the Stampede, which would be renamed the “Bulls” into being a “JV” team for the Bears. After it appeared late last week as if an “understanding” was going to be reached, the two sides have since, apparently not agreed and the Stampede will be the “Stampede” and be owned and managed independently from the Bears. Of course, this does not mean that the Bears will not attempt to get a AA team going anyway between now and Friday. They have suggested that they have “well over 70” players wanting to be part of the Bears in ’08. Certainly plenty to take the bottom 35 and create a decent AA team. It remains to be seen if this will happen, however, by Friday. Now… why don’t these sorts of problems happen in Montana!????!?

The “Shock” new logo looks good. After it seeming as if an endless steam of Davis (dang I like saying that) Vipers were going from their old team to the Shock, word from Viper camp is that “some of them are coming back”. So, maybe there was much ado about nothing. The Shock, however, should be just fine with their solid core of players AND star quarterback. Regardless, there will still be some ex-Vipers on the Shock and won’t that be an interesting renewal of an old rivalry… Shock vs. Vipers in the AAA… after so many great AA battles two years ago.

Speaking of rivalries… who will be the Bears biggest rival if there isn’t a Rhino-Raiders? Who will the Mustangs hate if there isn’t a Madison Lionz?

Oh, and is Damon Greenberry really going to play for Mike Curran’s new indoor team? Rumors were true that there were a number of Rhino players at the “Saints” (no, not “latter-day”, but “today Saints) and so was Heat stars, Jeff Wissler and Jeff Johnson, who, according to informed sources were heads and shoulders above the competition for their positions.

My question is… how does Mike Curren keep getting self-respecting football players to play in his leagues!?!?!???

That’s all I’ve got… until Friday…