Advisory Board
The American Arena League Advisory and Mentoring Board is set up to motivate AAL players and coaches and prepare them for life both as a professional athlete or coach and in life after sports. The board consists of a group of former professional athletes, current and past celebrities and successful business executives. These individuals will be an asset and a sounding board to AAL staff in setting the leagues long range goals.
Some accomplishments of our board members include a 3 Super Bowl victories and 2 NFL Pro Bowl Selections. Advisory board members will be in attendance and speaking at select AAL functions, games and player combines.
Advisory Board Members
Mike Hollis – Former NFL Kicker
Mike is a retired NFL place kicker of 9 years. Mike played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, and New York Giants. He represented the AFC in the 1998 Pro Bowl in Hawaii and presently ranks in the top 20 in overall field goal accuracy in NFL history.
Mike has worked with 5 different Pro Bowl punters during his NFL career, learning from and coaching each of them.
To learn more on Mike Hollis and ProForm Kicking Academy:
Vince Papale
Former NFL Receiver & Special Teams Player, Inspiration for Disney Movie Invincible
Vince is a household name to Eagles fans having gone from season ticket holder to an Eagles player defying all odds. At the completion of each NAFL season one player who has broken all the barriers and has excelled in the NAFL will be awarded the Vince Papale award.
Papale's post-collegiate football career began with the Aston Green Knights of the semi-pro Seaboard Football League.
Papale, at 6-feet 2-inches and 195 pounds, eventually made the team, thereby becoming, at age 30, the oldest rookie in the history of the NFL to play without the benefit of college football experience (other than kickers). He went on to play wide receiver and special teams for the Eagles from 1976 through 1978. During that time, he played in 41 of 44 regular season games (regular seasons being 14 games in 1976–1977 and 16 games in 1978) recording two fumble recoveries and one 15-yard reception. He was voted Special Teams Special Captain by his teammates and
"Man of the Year" by the Eagles in 1978 for his many charitable activities. A shoulder injury ended his career in 1979.After retiring from the NFL, he worked as a TV and radio broadcaster for eight years, then became a commercial mortgage banker.
Papale, who earned the nickname "Rocky" (after the Sylvester Stallone character) while playing with the Eagles is the subject of the Disney movie Invincible, with Mark Wahlberg portraying him.
To learn more about Vince Papale click below:
Brian Jackson – Former AFL & Indoor Football Kicker
Brian is a place kicker that has played in 71 professional games for the Arena Pro Leagues. He has played for the AFL's New Orleans Voodoo, Spokane Shock and Orlando Predators as well as several teams in other indoor leagues.
He is very trusted by College Coaches in the Southeast, as well as several NFL / AFL / Indoor league teams. During his high school football career, he enjoyed a decorated career with the longest field goal record of 54 yards at his alma mater.
To learn more on Brian Jackson and Team Jackson Kicking Academy:
Mike Siani- Former NFL Wide Receiver
Former Oakland Raider Mike Siani was born and raised in Staten Island, NY. While in high school, Siani competed and excelled in football, baseball and basketball. An All-City All-Star in three sports and an All-American All-Star in football, Siani received a scholarship to attend Villanova University and continued to play both football and baseball. While at Villanova, Siani set every receiving and scoring record for the Wildcat football team and still holds many of those records today.
He was also named to many All-Star teams including being named All-American in both his junior and senior years.
In addition, Siani was named to several All-American baseball teams and was drafted in baseball by the NY Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Texas Rangers. In 1972 Siani was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the NFL draft and immediately became one of the bright spots on an already powerful Raiders team
Siani was named to every All-Rookie NFL team and finished second in voting for rookie of the year honors behind Franco Harris in 1972..
Siani played seven seasons for the Raiders, getting to the Pro-Bowl in 1973 and the Superbowl in 1977 where the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings in Superbowl XI. Siani was traded to the then Baltimore Colts and finished his career with three years in Baltimore in 1981
James “Bonecrusher” Smith – Former WBA Boxing Title
During the 1980’s, James “Bonecrusher” Smith was a roaming menace in the Heavyweight division for anyone looking to obtain or retain Championship status. He blasted Frank Bruno and Mike Weaver in devastating fashion before whipping Tim Witherspoon inside of one round for the WBA Title.
He was one of only two men to make “Iron” Mike wait for the judges’ scorecards during Tyson’s initial championship reign and he emerged as an abrupt, game changing annoyance to Don King’s promotional plans for a Heavyweight unification process.
In the new millennium, Reverend James “Bonecrusher” Smith is a humanitarian, role model and ordained minister. He gives back not only to his community and the kids that grow up in its streets; he is also a charitable resource and representative to many of Boxing’s elder, retired statesmen.
James has a national mentoring program called Champion For Kids, Inc. where he mentors middle school students to stay in school. Even though he was one of biggest kids in high school, his parents encouraged him to play basketball instead of football. He states “I sure that if I had a pro football player as a mentor I could have played in the NFL. Mentoring and guidance are very important in his Life.
My favorite charity is Champions for Kids: www.championforkids.org
EJ Snyder- Survivalist/Army Combat Vet/TV Persona ~ Actor/Host/Motivational Speaker
EJ Snyder is currently the host of the Discovery Channel’s Dual Survivor television show. The show features a pair of survival experts in predetermined scenarios while in challenging environments.
He has previously appeared on the Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid, TNT's 72 Hours, and the History Channel's Patton 360, among other TV & Film projects.
In addition EJ serves as a survival and military technical expert and adviser to the movie and television industry.
When not Filming EJ stays busy and tours the country as an inspirational and motivational speaker. He has a broad list of clients and speaks on many subjects including success in life, motivation, anti-bullying, military & U.S. history and survival. EJ is highly decorated Army combat veteran with 25 years military service under his belt, serving Ranger positions in Infantry and Airborne units. Snyder grew up in New Jersey and joined the armed forces at 19. He moved up the ranks quickly, seeing combat in both the Gulf War in 1991 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004. During his time in the Army, EJ stepped up as a Ranger Instructor, Survival & Tracking Instructor, and Drill Sergeant.