Yuma Criminals
The Yuma Criminals are the athletic teams of Yuma High School in Yuma, Arizona. The name "Criminals" was originally given to the school's football team in 1913 by fans of Phoenix Union High School, whose football team had just been defeated by Yuma High. The angry Phoenix fans dubbed the Yuma players "criminals" because of the rough and tumble style of play that they exhibited.
At first, the name "Criminals" was a fighting word to the Yuma High school community. However, by 1917, the name had stuck, and the school board officially adopted it for all of the school's athletic teams.
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