The Coconino sun., 1927-03-04


Arizona state university, New Mex
leo state university, and Gila college
of Stafford, this state, each with cham
pionship aspirations, are after 1927
honors.
Gila college, by virtue of its winning
the state junior college tournament at
Phoenix last week-in which the pow
ers-that-be-or-were refused to let
Flagstaff's second, or freshman squad
enter-and by virtue of preceding
string of victories over some of the
high schools of the state, issued a
challenge to Flagstaff through the
press. Coach Shumway of that school
was notified at Phoenix Saturday at
the close of the tournament by F. G.
Osborne, faculty chairman, and Jake
Bracker; manager, of Flagstaff col
lege athletics that no challenge would
be considered if issued through the
press, but that it might be if sent di-
rect. Shumway's action following
that ultimatum proves that he doesn't
want to meet the Flagstaff squad.
1t is respectfully suggested that
Coach Lynch notify Shumway that if
he wants a game up north here, he
had better enter his team in the
northern Arizona high school tourna-
ment here this month
Arizona state university at the be-
ginning of the basketball season was
too high and mighty to accept any
dates with Flagstaff. On the old or
der of the pug champion although
Arizona state wasn't a champion by
any neans-wi1o advises any chal-
lengers he's afraid of TO ''go and get
q reputation"
But now it's different. On Wednes-
day Lynch got the following telegram
from Graduate Manager Slonaker:
University Of Arizona would well
scome series of three basketball games
with your team at Phoenix between
eighth and twelfth of March. Sug
gest each team pay its own expenses
prorating net gate receipts on basis
of mileage travelled. Wire answer
Immediately.
"a. L. SLONAKER."
Another challenge, as funny as the
two others, was received yesterday
from Dan Burrows, sporting editor of
the Albuquerque Journal on behalf of
New Mexico State U.
coach Roy Johnson made state
ment tonight that he believes Lobos
have best claim to southwestern
championship with eleven victories,
three defeats in college competition
and 597 points to opponents $40 in
fourteen games, none with junior col
leges. Lumberjacks have won eleven,
lost three with 450 points to oppo-
nents' 396 In college games, three with
Junior colleges and none with Univer-
sity Of Arizona Johnson says he is
willing to meet Lumberjacks in three
game series at Flagstaff if they want
chance for clear title.'
IF that amt the great stuff! Flag
staff has beaten N. VI. u. in both OF
the games against it, once there and
once here. And now New Mexico
wants another beating before it can
be satisfied that Flagstaff is its SUI
perior.
Coach Lynch retorts that the prop
er thing if the two state universities
are scalp hungry is for them to fight
If out between themselves. Then,
and only until then," Lynch says, the
winner will be in some halfway sort
of position to talk business to Flag
staff.
Coach Lynch wants to take the
Flagstaff champs to Kansas City ts
the A. A. IT,, or national tourney.
President Grady Gammage of the essst-
lege is in Dallas, Texas, at the Ma.
tional Education association meeting
and attempts to reach him by tele-
phone so far have failed.
In case the squad cannot go to Kan
- - 41-o% A at q
university, merely for the sake of the
excitement it would afford, will be
taken on for two or three games pro-
viding Manager Slonaker consents to
have the first two played here. In
the event of tie, probably the decid-
ing game would be played in Phoenix.
AS the one challenged, Coach Lynch
and not Manager Slonaker is the one
who has the logical right to say where
the games shall be played.