Arizona Vote Could Affect Two Bowls

Officials of Arizona’s two bowl games remained optimistic that voter rejection of a Martin Luther King holiday will not hurt them.

The issue already has caused NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to recommend that the 1993 Super Bowl be taken out of Phoenix.

But John Junker, executive director of the Fiesta Bowl, said he didn’t expect the vote on a proposed state holiday in Tuesday’s election would seriously affect the team selection process.

“It is a concern, but it has not been expressed by any teams we’ve dealt with recently or historically,” Junker said. “Our organization and our treatment of people have been good through the years.”

However, one of the Fiesta Bowl’s founders said the vote will mean that the bowl will have a harder time attracting top teams. The Fiesta Bowl had been expected to match Virginia against Penn State, Florida State, Miami or Notre Dame.

Bill Shover, a Fiesta Bowl board member, said Miami Athletic Director Sam Jankovich told him earlier this year it would be difficult for the Hurricanes to accept an invitation if the holiday was rejected.

“Notre Dame is very sensitive to controversy,” Shover said Thursday. “And I think you would find Penn State would be the same way.

“They’re (bowl officials) going to have a hard time selling it in view of the political situation here.”

In Tucson, a Copper Bowl official said he hasn’t heard any reactions from schools with teams that might play in the Dec. 31 game.

“I have no indication that it will affect us this year. I’m not sure about future years,” said Merle Miller, Copper Bowl executive director.

Copper Bowl officials said Wyoming and California are among nine schools being considered to play.

Notre Dame Athletic Director Dick Rosenthal said Wednesday he had not spoken with Fiesta Bowl officials about the situation, but said the issue would go to the university’s trustees. The Irish, though, are also in line to play in the Orange or Sugar bowls.