So it seems that we have had some problems getting AA players to the AA All-Star game the last couple years. I know it's the end of the season and guys from other states don't want to travel. Guys in Utah don't want to travel to Idaho/Montana. Guys in Montana don't want to travel to Utah/Idaho. Guys in Idaho don't want to travel to Utah/Montana. My idea is this.....
We should still nominate and select All-Stars like we have in the past. BUT just announce the winners and simply give them jerseys or trophies or whatever! DONE DEAL! With the format we have now, half the guys in the AA All-Star Game aren't even on the list anyway.
Option #1.....We can have a Utah vs. Idaho vs. Montana Jamboree type of a game. Have a game where ANYONE in the AA can represent their state and play football. Montana will have their team. Utah will have their team. Idaho will have their team. Rather than having one 4 quarter game, you could have 6 quarters of football, (using the format like the Jamboree in Idaho). Allow ANYONE that wants to play for their state to play the game. I'm sure Utah, Idaho and Montana can get 25 or so guys together to play one more game. Utah plays Idaho for 2 quarters. Then they play Montana for 2 quarters. Then Montana plays Idaho for 2 quarters. We can figure out a way to determine the winner. Winning state gets a trophy for the year and bragging rights. If Utah shows up with only scrubs and Montana/Idaho wins the trophy than maybe it will motivate better/more players from Utah to join the game the next year. Either way, everyone gets a full game but you have guys that WANT to be there. Nominate/select a Coach of the year from each division and have them coach the teams. BOOM!
Option #2.....Just have guys from ANY state/ANY team sign up for the game. Nominate/select coaches from each of the 3 states and have them do a draft for the game. I would suggest they do it behind closed doors so guys aren't offended or humiliated if they get picked last. Then you just suit up and play the same format as above but, it's not based on state or team. The coach that wins that year gets the trophy and will return the next year to try to keep the crown. The other 2 coaches will be replaced with coaches that are nominated/selected the next year.
FEEL FREE TO PICK THIS APART AND ADD TO IT IF YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD OR A BAD IDEA. I'M JUST TRYING TO COME UP WITH WAYS TO MOVE FORWARD.
I see what you are saying about travel, but I think alot of guys consider it an honor to be selected and be able to play in the game. I like the Allstar game, and I'm not sure many people would want to participate in the format you described, although it is a creative idea. I don't understand guys not wanting to go, car pool with your teammates/buddies that you played with all season long that were selected, go have a good time in another city for a weekend and play in a game where you are recognized for your season's accomplishments. If guys can't get excited for that then why are they in the RMFL? That's what the RMFL is all about. I realize that's probably your outlook too Jaye, but that was directed to those who can but don't go. We'll see how it goes on Saturday, I think it will be a better success this year.
I second this opinion. The single most important aspect of this league(IMO) is the relationships you make with other people and were it not for venues like the all star game, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to meet the amazing personalities that this league has to offer. Is the game perfect? No and it probably never will be but when people decide to skip the game and do other things, others take their spot and it always works out. Again it is an honor to get selected and if people choose to skip out on the game, they're missing out. I really hope this game sticks around for the foreseeable future. This will be my fourth year playing and every year it is an absolute blast and every year I meet new people. I honestly don't feel like there is a problem with this game. Obviously we are always wanting to improve but the term "If it's not broke, don't fix it" comes to mind. Don't ruin or alter this game because of a few bad eggs.
-- Edited by TD on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:27:56 PM
-- Edited by TD on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:28:46 PM
I think option one would be the more competitive way, and the players still feel like they are representing something (their state), which would probably lead to more attendance and better games. You could even do a east Idaho and west Idaho team to make it four teams and do a tourney style event with four teams.
I'm not denying the importance and how it SHOULD be but it seems like it has fizzled out in the last few years. That's why I was saying to still honor them with trophies/jerseys or whatever. I'm just trying to think of other options to still have a good game. Ask Brad about the struggles of putting these teams together the last two years and how many actual ALL-STARS are participating. There are a lot of guys that would be willing to go (that aren't All-Stars) and could plan for it in advance if we didn't have to wait until the end of the season and only have 1 week to plan for the trip. There were a lot of guys from Idaho that didn't show up in Salt Lake City last year. There will be a lot of guys from Montana and Utah that won't show up at the All-Star game in Boise. So I'm not saying I'm against the All-Star Game.....i'm NOT! But an All-Star game with only 50% of our actual All-Stars is not really worth calling it an All-Star game. Just something to think about and consider over the off-season.
-- Edited by GORILLA20 on Tuesday 25th of June 2013 04:59:39 PM
The Idaho guys will show up because it's in Idaho just like last year, the Utah guys showed up because it was in Utah. Let's say that the Matadors beat the Generals and how it would look if the Gladiators were hosting the Championship Game? How many guys from Idaho/Utah would actually travel down there? I doubt there will be very many guys from Montana in the All-Star game. I think this option gives guys that WANT to play another game the opportunity to play another game. We should still recognize the All-Stars but I think we should just have a game where anyone that CAN make the trip can go get another game in. The chances of getting a good game with a viable amount of bodies increases dramatically when you allow ANYONE that can go play to participate.
And the SIN CITY BOWL will NEVER be anything other than a bunch of RMFL guys going to have a good time, get to know each other and PARTY!!!!! You should make the trip this year, CPT. It's a good time.
I see what you are saying about travel, but I think alot of guys consider it an honor to be selected and be able to play in the game. I like the Allstar game, and I'm not sure many people would want to participate in the format you described, although it is a creative idea. I don't understand guys not wanting to go, car pool with your teammates/buddies that you played with all season long that were selected, go have a good time in another city for a weekend and play in a game where you are recognized for your season's accomplishments. If guys can't get excited for that then why are they in the RMFL? That's what the RMFL is all about. I realize that's probably your outlook too Jaye, but that was directed to those who can but don't go. We'll see how it goes on Saturday, I think it will be a better success this year.
if we had someone doing stats that was paid by the league to ensure that they were legit than it would be a great idea but, i'm not sure we would real stats submitted any other way. Either way, there's no reason to comment unless you're trying to create a solution, come with some new ideas or throw out ideas. I hear you post a lot but very seldom come with something that will help the situation. I respect your opinion and your views but it would be A LOT better if those opinions/views came with some positive feedback. So with that said.....ANY IDEAS?
and also, this doesn't have to be a huge drawn out thing. just some things to think about in the off-season. it's always good to have some ideas or points to bring up prior to the league meeting.
GOOD LUCK TO THE 4 TEAMS LEFT IN THE HUNT FOR THE AAA AND AA CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THE GUYS MAKING THE TRIP TO THE AA ALL-STAR GAME. I HOPE EVERYONE TRAVELS SAFE AND STAYS HEALTHY.
-- Edited by GORILLA20 on Wednesday 26th of June 2013 04:45:38 PM
I'm really excited about our new format this year. Unfortunately the Montana United game has sucked most of the MT All Stars out of the All Star game, but I do feel like this format will work better (just not as well this year).
I think we may need to look at a realignment. While it's fun to play with the guys we know, I think it might also be fun to mix the teams up more.
I'm all for brainstorming and am happy to do whatever the majority of the AA wants, but I'd also be interested in any ideas to tweak the current format of the All Star game that might also improve it.
Keep the format with all the nominees but put them in a pool. Losing coaches in the semifinals are the team coaches and the teams are drafted. Red and Blue.
Your kidding yourselves if you believe that the struggles of getting a true all-star game together is only in the past few years. I've played in AAA and AA all-star games and they always end up grabbing a few guys from the stands with their pads to fill out the roster. We even had a back up shock QB (maybe he wasn't even a back up QB, but a shock player none the less) fill in for QB in a AA all-star game when it was in Utah the one year. I believe the struggles exist because the all-star team isn't an all-star team. Rather those who win the affection of their GM during the course of the season. Create TRUE all-star games and see what happens. Make all GM's or those with voting power elect the team based on stats and performance. Get the best the league has to offer actually on the team and create a prestige that ISN"T there now. Even sweeten the pot by awarding the winning team and participating players with reduced league fees the following year or even no player fees. Something to sweeten the pot anyways. JMO
Well you can't always use STATS because then you get GMs that fabricate them and inflate them to serve their purpose. I think the All-Star is good because you get the GMs nominating guys that may not be ALL about stats but what they mean to THEIR specific team. I still think you get REALLY good players and competitive games. I just want a way to help players PLAN for the game prior to being selected. For example, my guys didn't find out the venue/roster until a week or so ago. Some guys love the HONOR but don't love the travel or whatever. I'm just trying to give guys the HONOR of being chosen but also guaranteeing that we get guys that WANT to be there so we have good/solid games. I think THAT is more important than an "ALL-STAR GAME". But like Brad said.....the Montana Bowl may have put a damper on some things so let's just see what happens. I just think we should discuss some other options.
Even the NFL pro bowl does not get every player that is selected first team to play in the Game, they move down the list, as Brad did I'm sure. Ask whoever is playing if it isn't worth it to them. I say its great that both games are together, this is a great way to do it. It will get better as we get further.
Good luck to all teams and players.
P.S if the team that loses the AA ship doesn't also move up to AAA, there will be one pissed off bald guy here, and I can't tell you how crazy being ugly and bald makes people....... Hoop and I are still men, just with giant fore heads
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Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
Word through the grape-vine says that it could be one league next year.
Wouldn't have to worry about replacing the AA all-star game then and if there is an all-star game, it will more than likely be played by former AAA players.
well if we are just one league than TECHNICALLY we will ALL be AAA players.....Or we will all be considered AA players. Come on "trill".....i'm SURE that there is at least one actual IDEA in there somewhere with all those witty comments.
Its funny how only a few teams say one league........ Majority rule and I don't see the "less able" teams voting one league.... Crappy teams unite and force the better teams up.
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Hard work has a future payoff. Laziness pays off now.
SO WHAT ABOUT THIS IDEA? I TOOK SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS AND CAME UP WITH THIS.
WHAT IF WE HAVE TEAMS' GMS SUBMIT THEIR NOMINATIONS TO THE LEAGUE BOARD, LIKE WE ALWAYS DO? BUT RATHER THAN HAVE THE BOARD FIGURE IT OUT AND MAKE THE SELECTIONS, WE CAN HAVE THE COACHES (LOSERS OF THE SEMI-FINAL GAMES) DRAFT PLAYERS FROM THE NOMINATIONS? WE CAN PUT ALL OF THE NOMINATIONS ON A LIST ACCORDING TO POSITION AND LET THE COACHES CHOOSE WHO THEY WANT TO ROLL WITH.
I THINK THAT ADDS SOME INTEGRITY TO THE PROCESS RATHER THAN GIVING EVERY TEAM A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PLAYERS. HOWEVER, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AT LEAST ONE PLAYER FROM EVERY TEAM IN THE ALL-STAR GAME. THE ONES THAT GET DRAFTED PLAY IN THE GAME AND THE ONES THAT DON'T DO NOT MAKE THE CUT. PLAYERS WILL NOT KNOW IF THEY WERE NOMINATED SO THERE WILL BE NO HURT FEELINGS. WE CAN LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS THAT A COACH CAN SELECT FROM THEIR OWN TEAM TO KEEP THEM HONEST/UNBIASED. I ALSO THINK WE SHOULD START THE PROCESS AFTER 6 OR 7 GAMES OF THE SEASON IN ORDER TO GIVE THE PLAYERS MORE TIME TO PLAN FOR THE GAME/TRIP.
