Rocky Mountain Football League

According to his profile his name is Michael Bender, and indeed an ex-Cat player. Which by the way will lose to the Dors this weekend by a final score of 7-35. You heard it here first.

Golden11 wrote;

 All it comes down to is the rules, if they are in place, need to be followed without any exceptions.  

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Really Golden,  its been less than a year since the AAA Championship game and you are talking about the need to follow rules?  

From what ive heard I'm not sure you are qualified to comment on the topic.

 AT------> peckerhead

move on bro! Dont come on here with stuff and use an anoymous name!

Done deal! sheesh!

Never though I would be on the forums again, but I thought I would answer at least one of the questions that were asked.  The Sabercats were originally started by Tyler Collingwood, Shawn King, and Roger Gonzales and it was based out of Payette Idaho, with games played in New Plymouth.  The games were moved to Ontario, OR only.  Practices are still held in Idaho.  In all reality, it is still an Idaho team. 

As for the whole league split, I thought it was the right thing to do.  The Utah teams have a greater opportunity to excel due to available players, resources, and population in general.  Its hard to compete against teams like that when you draw your players from mulitple small towns with less then 2000 people in them.  The biggest issue that I have seen is the lack of enforcing the rules as they were established.  Top 2 AA go up, bottom 2 AAA move down.  If travel is the issue, then to bad.  You knew what the requirements were before you ever applied to start a team.  If it interferes with your job and personal life, then playing football isn't for you.  When I played, I arranged my work schedule, school, and personal life.  But I also knew I was only going to play for a limited number of years.  I agree with Kyto that teams need to look professional, and have their ducks in a row.  My only solution that I can offer about the AA/AAA moves, is that if the AA champ refuses to move up, then they do not have the right to play for another championship, no matter what their record might be.  There are rules in all aspects of life, and if you don't follow them, for whatever reason, then you get punished.  So what if they might not be considered a true champ?  What makes a team a true champ?  Some of it might be the skill and ability of the players, but there is also a lot of luck involved.  If a sudden gust of wind causes a game winning kick to hit the upright instead of going through, does that make the winning team a true champ?  Or in reverse, if that gust of wind makes a missed kick good and it gives someone a win they didn't earn?

To me, a true champ is the person who goes home at the end of the day and can honestly tell themselves that they performed to the best of their ability, whether it is at a sport, at life, at work, etc... 

I think the AA should have a minimum set of standards that they should adhere to, or be removed/suspended until they can meet those goals.  If they are playing football just for the love of the game, then they can play amongst themselves.  My favorite football game to this day is the one I play every Thanksgiving morning with friends.  

Now knowing how people are, I am sure to draw a whole lot of trash talk and personal comments about this, but thats fine.  I know who and what I was when I played for the Sabercats, and that was a little above avg lineman, who couldn't run block to save my soul, but could get away with holding like you wouldn't believe :)  I could live with our lack of wins as a team, all because I had the knowledge that I did my part of keeping the guy across from me away from whomever had the ball, which I actually did for the most part.  I didn't give up too many sacks, some in part to Tyler's scrambling ability and the rest due to the before mentioned holding.  Like my teammate MrMike, I started at a later age then most, and retired from the game after five years at 35, with little to no lasting injuries.  Which I what I hope for with all of you.  To be able to leave the game without having to pay for it in the long-term.

As for the "elitest" attitudes that some people have about the AA/AAA, well I believe there is some reason for that.  The AAA does represent the best that the RMFL has to offer.  The "elitest" attitude is really only coming from a few individuals who believe that the success of the team is the result of them as an individual Tom B, so don't apply it to everyone on a AAA team.  We all know that there are AA players playing on AAA teams and vice-versa. 

As for the people who think that posting as an anonymous is cowardly, I don't have an account anymore and I don't care to create one.  My name is Andrew Frasier, I played O-line for the SnakeRiver Sabercats and my old jersey number was 75. 

As for the whole subject of the league progressing forward, its needs to be done as a whole, both AA and AAA.  Sit down, have a come to Jesus moment, and figure out a direction that benefits everyone.  If you can't come to terms, or the outcome is less than some desire, then feel free to leave.  Not in a "I didn't get my way so I am talking my ball elsewhere" but because you need more then what can be provided.  With 27 teams, there is more than enough teams available if some wish to move on that it won't destroy the league.  In the end, figure out what you all want as a player, as a team, and as a league and come together.  To me, that says more then how efficient your team is run or how nice your uniforms are.

Good luck, play hard, be safe.

Andrew Frasier

I wasn't directing it at the whole AAA either Tom.  And I am enjoying the retired life.  I now get to play really bad softball while drinking beer! And its co-ed so I get to look at a few nicely shaped ladies as well.  Hope you make it through to your retirement without any problems.  I honestly don't know how you still do it.  The only thing I can think of is that you are so old you're petrified now and can't be hurt LOL.  

Andy