NEFL Weekly - Week 1 Radio Show (click here to play in your default media player)Ray Roberts, Thunderhawks Head Coach
Fred Hoversholm, Crush Head Coach
Chris Knapp, Force Head Coach
Kevin Blake, Spartans Head Coach
# # # # #
NEFL WEEK 1 RELEASE (Click here to view)# # # # #
Game Notes (Click on the game you're interested in learning more about)
Green Bay Gladiators @ Kimberly StormMinnesota Dragons @ Fox Valley ForceLake Superior Rage @ River City Rough RidersSt Paul Pioneers @ Central Wisconsin SpartansMenomonie Thunderhawks @ Eau Claire Crush# # # # #
NEFL in the CommunitySemi-Pro Football Teams are Unsung Heroes (Fox Valley Force and Kimberly Storm)
It is utterly impossible to collect nearly 20,000 TONS of donations in a single day without some serious muscle power behind the scenes. On Saturday, April 14, the 17th annual Sack It to Goodwill donation drive will once again get a huge lift (literally as well as figuratively) thanks to two Fox Valley semi-pro Football teams -- The Fox Valley Force and The Kimberly Storm. The players, coaches and members of their respective dance squads will help haul bags and boxes of community donations during the single-busiest collection drive annually.
"Our players and coaches have said they love the fact that they can be a part of something bigger," says Matt Reyes, Force president. "They enjoy the great feeling of working hard, knowing that the items are going to help families in the Fox Valley Community."
That sentiment is echoed by Jesse Slinger, owner of The Storm.
"Goodwill has been kind enough to allow us to contribute our muscle in the Sack-It program over the last three years. This has helped our organization and our team grow," said Slinger, who also plays strong safety for his own squad. "We use this event as a team building exercise and, of course, our competitive nature kicks in during the work day. It never fails, the process turns into a competition to see who can empty a trailer first."
Despite the competitive nature of both teams, the day is really about both The Storm and The Force putting aside their on-the-field rivalry in a united effort to support a good cause, said Jim Vanden Boom, Goodwill NCW's community engagement leader.
"You hear a lot of talk about selfless sportsmanship," Vanden Boom said, "but on Sack It Saturday, it's genuinely inspiring to see two squads working side-by-side -- the black-and-gold Storm jerseys intermingling with the blue-and-white of the Force. They may be fierce rivals on the field, but on Sack It Saturday, you get the sense they they really enjoy a camaraderie born of mutual respect."
Both teams are part of the Northern Elite Football League (NEFL) the Midwest's premiere Semi-Professional (Amateur) Football league. The NEFL is comprised of 12 teams from Wisconsin and Minnesota. Each team plays an eight-game schedule, and can compete through three rounds of playoff action.
"The talent in this league is phenomenal," says Slinger. "There are ex-pro players down to highly athletic men right out of high school. The action is intense, the games are a blast to watch, and the food in the concession stand is unbeatable."
Reyes noted that seven of the league's current teams "are former champions from other leagues ... making us truly elite!"
[Source: FVForce.com “Semi-Pro Football Teams are Unsung Heroes” listed on homepage as of May 8, 2012]
GAME-DAY EVENTS FOR MAY 11-12, 2012
-The Fox Valley Force game this Saturday against the Minnesota Dragons is the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley game. There will also be a meet-and-greet with photo opportunities for fans with their favorite Star Wars characters.
-The Eau Claire Crush will host a “tip night” at Pizza Ranch in Eau Claire from 4:30 until 8:00p.m. on Thursday, May 10. Crush players will bus tables and give fans a chance to meet their 2012 Crush. 20% of all proceeds will go to the Crush.
-The River City Rough Riders’ TV show, “Rough Riders Live,” will air at 11 a.m. on Fox 25/48 (WLAX/WEUX La Crosse / Eau Claire). This is the second installment of the show, in its first season.
# # # # #
All-time rankings - These are already in the forum and updated weekly.
# # # # #
PRESEASON POWER RANKINGS
1. Pioneers
2. Dragons
3. Predators
4. Force
5. Rage
6. Crush
7. Gladiators
8. Giants
9. Thunderhawks
10. Storm
11. Spartans
12. Rough Riders
# # # # #
PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pioneers (10) - 50
2. Force - 31.5
3. Predators - 26.5
4. Dragons - 19
5. Rage - 17.5
Also receiving votes: Crush - 5, Thunderhawks - 0.5.
Teams participating: Crush, Force, Gladiators, Pioneers, Predators, Rage, Rough Riders, Spartans, Storm, Thunderhawks (10 total)
Poll facts: The Pioneers are unanimously voted #1... Only 3 teams appeared on every ballot: the Pioneers, Force and Rage... every team ranked 2-5 received at least one 2nd-place vote... Only two ties were cast in balloting... 5 teams did not receive a vote, but all of those teams participated in the polling... The Predators and Dragons did not appear on one ballot apiece (not the same ballot)... The Central Division teams all received votes, while two from the West and just one from the East got on ballots... The Pioneers (50 points) out-ranked the entire Central Division combined (49.5 points)... Of the 10 ballots cast, only 2 had the same order of ranked teams.