Arizona republican., 1910-12-04
HAS
 WORD ID SAY 'ln Reply to Claims Of Prescott Ro0ler'
 HE THANKSGIVING CAME
Athletic Director Tells How the Mile High Team Won on a "Fluke" and Ex- plains Meanin gof Term, as Commonly Applied.
Phoenix. Ariz. Dec. l. l

IHOenlN, ATlZ-, Dec. T. lJlV.
 Sporting Editor Republican,, Sir: In Wednesdays edition of The Re- publican "A Prescott Rooter'' took oc- casion 10 use a good deal of space to say very little concerning the foot ball game played at Prescott Thanks giving day between the Prescott and Phoenix High School teams. The fol- lowing admission contained therein is all the Phoenix boys claim, and more than was claimed officially, with the exception Of the ''fluke." Among other things, he says: They" (PhoeniX) crossed Prescotts line fairly just once. Another time, as already point ed out, they took the ball over after it became Prescott's, and still another time they crawled over with it after it was down. This admission that our boys crossed their goal line three times is very gratifying to us. Of course. the boys were disappointed and little sore because they were not allowed one of them at least, just as the Prescott boys would have been had the positions been reversed. Since more has been admitted than we claim ed officially on that score, let us take up the next, which was that Prescott won on a "fluke" A "fluke" in foot ball parlance means an unearned goal -one in which the ball is secured after tumble or misplay and is car ried over. not by any particular plan ned play or series of plays. Any one who followed the game closely knows that the six winning points were se- cured in exactly that way. Jackson of Phoenix High fumbled the ball, one of the Prescott players recovered it and made a beautiful run for touch- down, after which they kicked a goal. This was perfectly legitimate and was not contested. The Prescott rooter's statement that the play was most ingeniously planned and beautifully executed" is erroneous.
 The touchdown we were allowed was really made twice. as the ball was over the line on the down before it was carried over and allowed. This Mir Hart admitted.
 l don't think Captain Crawford was deliberately injured. as you say. If he was whoever did should have been put out of the game. Our boys spoke very highly of him and I heard lit-' tie complaint from any of our boys concerning any of the Prescott team. Any one who knows much about foot ball knows that, considering the fierce ness of the contest, it was remarkably free from intentional roughness.
 You claim that our boys "sulked in their tents" after the game. I ad- init that it did seem so for a while Time had been called out on account of one of our boys getting his leg hurt and several of the boys helped carry him to the side lines and most of the team followed, and just then the game was over; the boys were scattered and did not realize that it was over. If you. MT. Rooter. could have heard the yell the Phoenix boys gave the Prescott boys at their school few minutes later. you certainly would not have written that para graph.
 Our boys have a wholesome regard for the Prescott boys and not a player ever commented on the size of their opponents. except to speak in praise of that little end" I don't know how much our boys weigh. but l know they didn't lose any weight on account of not being well fed in your city. Neither did they lose sleep on account of not being treated we'll by the Prescott boys and girls.
 The stuff concerning the cold, big mountain giants, etc, was only news paper talk and no one in an official position gave any grounds for it. We have. and hope to continue to have, very friendly feeling toward the Pres colt High School. We believe in rivalry, not enmity. I ask MT. Hart to make any statements concerning anything have said that is erroneous. It is my desire to be perfectly fair and to keep in friendly touch with your school. and this is also the de- sire of the school in general.
 1.-The intimation that our boys were afraid to play the Prescott boys return game is all wrong. The boys offered to put up the expense of the game themselves and play again, any time or place. They have begged me to get another game, but as we are in the Valley Athletic association here and under its rules football ends on Thanksgiving day, we would not con slider another game this season. c. l.. MICHAEL, Athletic Director Phoenix Union High School.