Arlington’s semi-pro football players all have day jobs

Mark Knapp has been involved in semipro football, both as a player and a coach, since the 1990s. Therefore, he knows all about the reputation that surrounds the sport.

The reputation of leagues with little organization as teams drift away during the middle of seasons.

Of teams being run by players rather than coaches, as playing time is doled out based on who you know rather than how well you play.

Of players lacking discipline, talking trash and getting into fights in the parking lot after games.

That’s what Knapp is trying to change with the Arlington Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies just began their second season in the Western Washington Football Alliance, and Knapp, the team’s owner and head coach, is doing what he can to change the way the sport is perceived and operates.

“There’s some guys in certain parts of football who have different attitudes about the game or the way they conduct themselves,” Knapp said.

“So that’s what drove us. We wanted a disciplined team with the correct management, the correct funding, with the correct everything to put the best team on the field, not just your friends.”

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It’s a sunny and pleasant Tuesday evening at North Creek Sports Fields in Bothell, and about 30 men in shorts and t-shirts are being put through the conditioning paces. Two groups take turns being prompted by a coach to shuffle to the sides, hit the deck, then sprint to another coach 30 yards away. There’s no dogging it, just a lot of panting and sweat.

It’s hard to believe everyone there paid to do this.

Such is the nature of semipro football, which is mostly a labor of love. The Grizzlies have 72 players on their roster, ranging in age from 18 to 36, who pay a fee to play in the league. They come from as far-flung locations as Bellingham to the north, SeaTac to the south and Port Orchard to the west. When they arrive at their twice-weekly practices they come having worked jobs as diverse as construction worker, law enforcement officer and chef.

They come from all kinds of football backgrounds, some having played professionally in arena leagues and others having barely played in high school. Some still have aspirations of catching on with the Canadian Football League or arena leagues, but most are there strictly because football is in their blood.

“Look at the guys who come out here,” said veteran defensive back Gregory Johnson, who’s still playing at the age of 30. “There are guys who all they do is work and come out here. We all have day jobs, so it’s pretty much for the love of the game.”

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This year’s Grizzlies are no joke.

Last season was Arlington’s first in the 16-team WWFA, which also includes the Monroe-based Snohomish County Vikings. Knapp started the team last year after the previous team he was involved with, the Snohomish County Thunder, folded. The Grizzlies finished 2-6, and as a first-year team were ineligible for postseason play.

But this season the Grizzlies are expected to be a force. Arlington added a wealth of talent to a team that already had a strong defense led by cornerback Orlando Alvarez and safety Jordan Brown. New receiver Antoinne Wafer is also expected to make a major impact.

The WWFA website conducted a preseason power rankings of all the semipro teams from the northwest, including the WWFA, Pacific Football League and Washington State Football League. Arlington was ranked second, only behind the PFL’s Portland Raiders — and one spot ahead of the WWFA’s Puyallup Nation Kings, who boast several former University of Washington players, including defensive back Sean Parker and defensive tackle Wilson Afoa.

The Grizzlies justified their ranking first by winning their two preseason games, then crushing the 13th-ranked Cowlitz Cobras 39-6 in their league opener Saturday at Arlington High School, a game in which quarterback Rodney Haines threw three touchdown passes and running back Jeff Hanson scored two.

“We’re really good this year,” said Knapp, who compared the level of play in the WWFA to that of regional junior colleges. “I’ve coached a lot of teams and this one is really good.”

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However, the Grizzlies aren’t just about winning. They’re about building a better reputation for semipro football, too.

Arlington conducted a combine prior to this season in an effort to find the best players. The Grizzlies only practice on artificial-turf fields and limit hitting in practice to reduce the chance of injury. Arlington even holds non-profit status as a 501(c)(3), with the team getting involved with the community, such as partnering with the Downtown Arlington Business Association to aid with its annual car show.

Meanwhile, on the field the team conducts itself in an organized manner consistent with college or high school teams. The team has eight coaches, and they’re the ones who make the decisions, not the players.

“The whole thing is run a lot smoother,” Johnson said. “Coaching, the business aspect, everything.

“Some of the other teams are like the players are coaching things. It’s not necessarily who has the talent, but this is my buddy so you can be the quarterback. This is based on who performs; whoever outperforms who is who plays on the field.”

As a result, the Grizzlies feel their players will be better prepared should they seek a higher level. That includes some of the team’s younger players, who hope to use Arlington as a vehicle for getting a chance at junior college — since the players aren’t paid they don’t lose college eligibility.

“I don’t even really consider this semipro as far as our organization,” said J.R. Wells, who graduated from being a player to being the team’s general manager and offensive coordinator this year. “I call it developmental football because there’s guys who want to go to the next level, and we want to give them that opportunity. It’s not just come out here and play, it’s come out here and compete for a spot.

“It’s a brotherhood that we have built, and the bond is just unbreakable. It’s incredible.”

If you have an idea for a community sports story, e-mail Nick Patterson at npatterson@heraldnet.com.