From: Nixon, Patrick
Sent: Tuesday, May 08, 2018 4:55 PM
To: '[email protected]' <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Saint Francis problem
I'm writing this email because I would like to shed some light on some of the actions of the Saint Francis football coaching staff and affiliates. Though this program has recruited my student athletes in the past, they have recently increased the intensity of their misconduct. Two football seasons ago they began recruiting one of my players who had just completed a very good sophomore season. They were constantly calling his cell phone and calling home to the parents. They even asked about other players who may be interested in transferring. They eventually contacted 2 other Mervo student athletes in 2017 about the possibility of them transferring. After a lot of meetings with the kids and their parents all of my student athletes decided to stay at Mervo. That didn’t stop them from constantly contacting their parents, their mentors etc.
Though I have no facts on this other situation, I wanted to let you know my thoughts. While I was away on vacation, I got a phone call from my assistant principal stating that a man was at Mervo trying to get the transcripts of those same student athletes who were being recruited to transfer to Saint Francis. When the gentleman was asked who he was, he stated that he was a friend but wouldn’t give his name. My assistant principal thought it was strange and so she called to inform me of what happened. My guess is that it was an affiliate of Saint Francis. That person never came back nor did the kids ever ask for their transcripts.
Throughout this entire past season, the coaches from Saint Francis continued to contact my now junior WR/FS that they wanted a year ago. Telling him that he wouldn’t go to college if he stayed at Mervo and that they promise him a full college scholarship if he came to Saint Francis. Once again the same kid entertained going to Saint Francis. He was practicing with the team even though he was still enrolled at Mervo. They gave him a Saint Francis sweat suit even though he wasn’t enrolled. They even had a coach come pick him up at our school to take him to workouts while still attending Mervo. Just like the year before, the same kid eventually decided to stay at Mervo and not transfer. Unfortunately, prior to that kid ultimately deciding to stay, he gave one of my other top players phone number to one of the Saint Francis coaches. This kid showed me all of the phone attempts and text messages placed by the Saint Francis coach/ affiliate. In these text messages, he asked him if he wants to come to Saint Francis so that he could get “SEC, NFL, MONEY”. I find that these empty promises and unethical tactics to be disgusting. Yesterday, the same coach messaged my kid by saying tell your coach to contact the University of Florida. “They are down here looking for you.” I know very well that this is a bold face lie! This is just another tactic to make the student athlete believe that he is in the wrong place if he wants to get recruited. I’ve had a conversation with one of the Saint Francis coaches about all of the crazy tactics. He told me that we (public schools) should be calling Saint Francis to recommend our kids to them if we really wanted what’s best for the kid. I’m not sure what the rules or values that the MIAA has but something needs to be done about how this program is handling business. I have dedicated my life to the youth of Baltimore City. It’s a shame that another school located in the same City has made my fight even tougher. I appreciate the time spent reading this letter. I hope that I have provided you with a little more insight on some of the things that Saint Francis is doing. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Patrick Nixon
Mergenthaler High school
Athletic director/ head football coach
