That parent also questioned the mid-summer timing of Robertson?s departure, blaming it for the struggles of this year?s team, which remains winless. That parent, who also accused Robertson of sabotaging the team by getting players to leave the school when he did, provided The Examiner with a copy of a letter, dated July 3, 2006, in which Robertson told his players that he would be leaving to pursue a new job. Robertson is now the director of college recruiting for the Columbia-based Baseball Factory.

“I?m sorry that anyone feels that way,” Robertson said. “Anybody who played for me, I think that they know I tried to keep the players? best interest in mind. I?m just sorry that they feel that way. I don?t know what else to say other than that. It?s probably difficult for them to speak. They never worked at Coppin. They don?t know the circumstance.”

This year?s team, 0-36 heading into this weekend?s home series against Florida A&M, carries just 11 players on its roster. While he feels for first-year coach Harvey Lee, Robertson had just 12 players in his first season in 2003, and only one played out his four-year eligibility for the Eagles.

The team?s home field, Joe Cannon Stadium, is located 17 miles from campus. According to one source, the equipment budget in recent years made it difficult to buy baseballs, let alone catcher?s equipment.

Coppin State administrator of athletics, Dr. Mary Wanza, whose department also oversees an 0-24 softball program, declined comment on the baseball team. An athletic department spokesperson relayed a message from her: “I really don?t know much about baseball. I don?t have much to say.”

The team?s new coach, Lee ? a former New York Yankees farmhand ? is doing his best. Not only is he filling out a lineup card of players in unfamiliar positions, but he?s also trying to build the program from the bottom up. When he was hired in late October, the team didn?t have enough players to field a team.

“I respect Guy as a person, but ? this is just me speaking ? I don?t respect him as a coach,” Lee said. “If I?m the captain of a ship and my dying day is tomorrow, I?m going to jump off ship and tell everyone to come with me? That?s not right.”

While Robertson attached a letter of intent release form to his resignation letter to players, he said he did not ask anyone to leave with him.

“You can say what you want, but when kids that have been there for three years decide to go somewhere else for their senior season, you read between the lines,” Robertson said. “It certainly has nothing to do with me.”

COPPIN STATE BASEBALL SERIES

This is the first in a multi-story series in which The Examiner will look at the struggles surrounding the Coppin State athletic program. Up next: The plight of Coppin State?s current baseball players.