Monterrey Prepa Tec is cancelling its high school football games in Texas amid an alleged extortion threat from a drug cartel.
The Borregos cancelled their game today with Round Rock Stony Point.
Monterrey Tec officials said the game the decision to cancel the game was done as a preventative security measure.
School spokesman Ricardo Garcia told Action 4 News that an anonymous phone call by someone claiming to be with a organized crime group last week.
The caller allegedly demanded a large amount of cash for the team to safely cross an international bridge into the United States.
Garcia said they did not know if the call was authentic or a prank but point out that drug cartel violence is common in Monterrey and the surrounding area.
He said the team decided to cancel Stony Point game for safety reasons.
Monterrey Tec’s college team also cancelled its scheduled game against Mary Hardin-Baylor for the same reason last Saturday.
"We can't risk the lives or the safety of our students and staff," Garcia said.
Rising Costs
School officials told Action 4 News in a previous interivew that the drug war in Mexico has forced the schools and others to change travel plans for events.
The team used to take overnight bus trips to save money on hotels but that's no longer the case due to insecurity on highways on the Mexican side of the border.
The Borregos are instead leaving by bus a day earlier to avoid traveling on the roads at night adding more expenses for hotel rooms.
About 45 students and staff from Monterrey Prepa Tec flew to Dallas last weekend to play Highland Park in a game where they lost.
For games in Mexico, the team is traveling by train during the day and flying back at night.
Other Games
The Monterrey Prepa Tec team still is playing a record of seven games in Texas this high school football season.
The team has three high school football games remaining this year in the Austin, Copus Christi and San Antonio areas.
The school is evaluating the other Texas games and is expected to make a decision on Monday.
It''s not clear how security concerns will affect scheduling and contracts for games next year.
Among the options are player fewer games, playing closer to the border or raising more funds to fly to games in Texas.
Garcia said he hopes the security situation improves before the next football season so they don't have to make many changes.
COMUNICADO OFICIAL
El Tecnológico de Monterrey define su postura ante viajes vía terrestre de sus equipos de Futbol Americano a Estados Unidos
Toma la Institución medidas preventivas para evitar riesgos en los trayectos vía terrestre a los juegos en Estados Unidos.
Monterrey, N.L. a 9 de septiembre de 2011.- El Tecnológico de Monterrey teniendo presente como prioridad la seguridad de sus alumnos, decidió cancelar los juegos de Futbol Americano de los equipos de Liga Mayor y Prepa Tec en Estados Unidos, los días 3 y 8 de septiembre.
Dichos encuentros se realizarían en la Universidad Mary Hardin Baylor en Belton, Texas, y contra el equipo Stony Point en Round Rock, Texas, respectivamente.
Lo anterior en base a una medida preventiva tomada por nuestra Institución, la cual se derivó de una llamada telefónica de extorsión recibida en la ciudad de Monterrey hace unos días, referente a los trayectos vía terrestre de nuestros equipos al vecino país.
Aunque la gran mayoría de llamadas de este tipo que se reciben en nuestra ciudad son falsas, se ha decidido no correr ningún riesgo cancelando los viajes.
Cabe destacar que se ha informado a las autoridades competentes de manera oportuna, las cuales están siguiendo sus procesos correspondientes.
Además, es importante señalar que no se ha tenido ningún incidente en viajes anteriores de nuestros equipos de futbol americano, tanto en preparatoria como a nivel universitario.
Confiamos en reanudar pronto este tipo de encuentros que permiten a los jugadores desarrollar un mayor rendimiento deportivo y estrechar los lazos con importantes instituciones educativas de los Estados Unidos.
Jorge A. Lozano Guzmán
Director de Comunicación y Relaciones Publicas
Rectoría Zona Metropolitana de Monterrey
Tecnológico de Monterrey
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