Campus Recreation unveiled a new option for students who wanted to take their intramural play to the next level before the 2009 flag football season began – Elite leagues, in which team pays $75, consists of about ten people and receives priority scheduling.

After a season of elite league play, some found the extra money to be well worth it and some believe there are still kinks to be worked out.

Forrest Moog, a junior in sports management who plays on the topically-named elite team Kibbles and Vicks, said he doesn’t see a dramatic difference in the level of competition. He said the skill level is approximately the same as in open play, but thinks the playoffs might be better.

“I guess it is for the winning team because they get their trip paid for to nationals, but for the rest of the teams, not really,” Moog said. “A bunch of the teams that didn’t make it in the men’s open are in a league, so it’s not necessarily better football.”

Moog said the refereeing is still hit-or-miss, but likes that teams get to play twice as much as rain dates are always rescheduled.

“It’s not perfect,” Moog said.

Dan Schillaci, a sophomore in accounting, plays with Moog on Kibbles and Vicks, was relieved to find half his season wouldn’t be canceled due to rain-outs.

“With my men’s open team, we only played two games and went 1-1, so we didn’t make the playoffs,” Schillaci said. “With the elite games, you’re guaranteed to play all four games.”

Schillaci said the elite league attracted teams who had been together longer and were more focused on the competitive aspect instead of goofing around with friends.

“In the elite league, more other teams have been playing together and know each other’s abilities. In the open teams, it’s pretty much whoever can get a team together plays.”

Schillaci agreed with Moog in that the calling of games could stand to be improved.

“There are a couple of refs who know what they’re doing and are really good, and there are some that aren’t,” Schillaci said. “I’d say they’re about the same in open and elite league.”

Patrick Meiburg, a junior in sports management, plays for the elite league soccer team Oak City FC. Meiburg played rec league soccer and ran cross country in high school and enjoys the benefits a few dollars has earned him and his teammates.

“The competition is a lot better and a lot of the guys are more focused,” Meiburg said. “There’s a lot more experience playing in the elite.”