I’ve done a ton of these and I think a lot of people actually like to read them. Although I own a team and play, I feel pretty unbiased because of how enjoyable I tend to take these things. I’ve come to learn in this league, people will either love you or hate you. And to those who at least respect me, well, thanks.
We are about to kickoff another Rocky Mountain Football League season and I could not be more excited. Although the Facebook page and the webpage suck, overall I know the buzz around the league is starting to pick up. Again, I don’t think I’m the only one who misses the old days of great content on the web page, the chat room, the bickering, but times have changed and I’ve come to terms with that.
It’s been an honor to call some of you my friends and it’s been an honor to play football with and against some of you. Hell, it’s an honor to just know some of you. I respect all that are associated with the Rocky Mountain Football League because I know how much time and effort it takes to run a team, run a league, play the game, and the passion it takes. Sometimes people take what I say so literally, that they almost encourage me to be more of a dick, but all in all, it’s just in good fun. I started in 2004 and now it’s 2015, I’m still the same person I was when I started, so take it for what it’s worth. But here it is, the 2015 RMFL AAA Preview. Again, this is my opinion, no on else’s. Get butthurt if you choose too, don’t come take out my ACL or anything.Just prove me wrong!
NORTHERN CONFERENCE – Let me lead up with saying I only know what I hear. Some things may be accurate, some may be so farfetched. With the Northern Conference, I am so far away to gather any type of information, most of it hearsay and personal experiences. So again, don’t get butt hurt.
1.Gallatin Valley Snowdevils – This team surprised the living hell out of me last year. They finished 7-2 overall last year, but lost to the eventual champions Vipers in the semi-finals. There is all this hype coming because they just picked up some Blaze players. So apparently now they are going to be good and be able to compete with Utah teams. Really? I’ll hop on the bandwagon because I think the Kurschners have something to prove and they want end their run on top. I think they will battle it out with Laurel to be the best in MT, but I don’t see them doing anything besides losing a semi-final game to a Utah team. However, as a new Snowdevil fan, you can prove me wrong on May 16. Just make sure not to slap me, challenge me to a stat war, or take out my ACL. I got GV being the best in the North.
2.Laurel Loco Express – Not gonna lie to you guys, I wish Ken and Jen Blankenship were around running a team a few years ago. They have what we strived for in the league a few years ago. Not only do they provide a good football team, they provide a great environment and they get the community involved. Having played these guys, I think they have what it takes to give GV a run for their money. Do they benefit at all from the Bullets and Blaze folding? I don’t know. I just know it’s no fun to make that drive up to Laurel. So if you make that drive, make it count. The Loco Express knows what it takes to play against the top level of the AAA. I was going to put Laurel above GV, but I just really, really, wanted to jump on the GV hype train.
3.Arco Anarchy – Arco is a really good team. I firmly believe that Arco, no matter their record, no matter if they have 15 or 40 guys, they will always come out and compete. Arco will always remind me of the tough Idaho Falls Mustangs and Madison Lionz squads from back in the day. These guys can play. If this team can find some consistent bodies and stay healthy they’ll be on the top of the Northern list. They won the Idaho division last year, but didn’t know if they would play in the playoff game. They did and ended up losing to Dixie 23-6 at home, however, I firmly believe that if these guys would not count themselves out against the Power 4 before the game, they can be a force to reckon with. The question here will be QB. They haven’t found much success since Cody Jackson left. If they can fill that void, they will be playing in mid-June. For now, because they have already considered themselves beat by the “Power 4”, they will be #3 in the Northern Conference.
4.Idaho Matadors – First off, thanks for forfeiting last year so I could play an extra three games and play for 7th place. Also I’d like to thank you ahead of time just in case you don’t make the playoffs and have to play in the bowl game playoff for forfeiting again. Who wants to play for 7th place? Well, the Matadors have been around since 2005--- and they are the Utah Shock of the AA. Always good, just never good enough. Jesus – please right the ship. Oh and Jesus Jara is back running the show– which in my mind will at least fix the tarnished Idaho Matador name. This is why I have them not playing for 9th place. Hopefully they can make a deep push this year or else you may just see Jesus leaving again and the Matadors playing in the “We Can’t Travel Out Of Western Idaho League”.
5.Magic Valley Bulldawgs – This team made the 2nd tier playoffs just like we did. And they went up to Logan and won. Although Logan was missing some folks, these guys get my respect just for the sheer fact that they just wanted to play football. They respect the fact that people have money invested in fields, officials, requested time off from work and all that junk. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Juan and the way he runs the ship. I’m solely putting them here because I just don’t know much about them. I think thatguy is running QB for them again, and I heard he requested us. Well, I can’t wait to play against the new Magic Valley Bulldawgs, because I know it’ll be a dawg fight. Get it?
6.Idaho Mustangs – The Mustangs were my pick last year to win AA. (I was cheering for my home squad Elko tho.) All the information, all the stuff I heard, well it wasn’t good information. The Stangs were not who I thought they were. Now the word is Neumeier is up there and some old faces may be returning. So--- with all due respect, I’m not going to expect anything from this team because you let me down and let Uintah own you. Props to Ihde. I think they have what it takes…. To advance to the Bowl game.
7.Great Falls Gladiators – I miss these guys. I miss how great they were. I miss how they were the 2nd best team in the RMFL after going back to back in AA. I miss the Great Falls Gladiators. After the humbling – this team was literally hanging on by a thread. The fact that they are around still is really a good thing. The Great Falls Gladiators name has been around since the beginning of the merger and for that, I hope whoever is running the show now knows how proud I am for he/she to take over. Hell, I’m surprised yall finished the season last year. Having not won any games there is nowhere to go but up. I think the folding of some MT teams may benefit these guys, I just don’t have enough info to know how much. But I sure hope they retire the #4 jersey when the Sting visit town.
Again, I’m sorry it doesn’t have the INSIDE track to what you may want to know. I get bored out here in Elko, and have nothing better to do while I’m not working or golfing. I’ve ranked these guys according to what has been told to be and been hyped to me, but I may be way off. So with that – on to the Southern Conference…
