Mervyn Fernandez
Encyclopedia
Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez (born December 29, 1959 in Merced, California
) is a former professional American
and Canadian football
player who played wide receiver
with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders
and the Canadian Football League
BC Lions
.
Fernandez was a two-time CFL All-Star (1984-1985) and is a member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame. In 2003
, Fernandez was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the wide receiver position
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006
, Fernandez was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
(#42) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
.
for Andrew Hill High School
in San Jose, California
, where he picked up his famous nickname "Swervin' Mervyn" from the team's quarterback.
Following high school, Fernandez played at DeAnza Junior College
in Cupertino, California
, before finishing his college career at nearby San José State University
. It was at San José State that Oakland Raider's staff members took notice of the 6'3", 205 pound, speedy wide receiver, and the Raiders eventually made Fernandez their 10th round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft
.
career (1982-1986, 1994) with the BC Lions
. Fernandez joined the Lions in 1982
, and made an immediate impact, finishing his rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards (1,046), and helping his team to 9-7 record. Fernandez won the CFL Western Division Most Outstanding Rookie award
, and was a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award as well.
After two 1,000-yard seasons, Fernandez was a key component in the BC Lions
Grey Cup
championship season of 1985
. Fernandez finished the season with 95 catches and 1,727 yards for an 18.2 yards per reception average, along with 15 touchdowns. Despite being injured and not playing in the game,following the Lions' 37-24 triumph over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
in the 73rd Grey Cup
, Fernandez became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award.
Fernandez, a two-time CFL All-Star (1984-1985) and member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame, was finally persuaded by Al Davis
and the Raiders to head south and join the NFL, following the 1986 CFL season
.
In 2003
, Fernandez was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the wide receiver position
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In November, 2006
, Fernandez was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players (#42) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
.
, he did leave his mark on the Raiders’ record books. His 209 career catches are 10th most by any receiver in Raiders’ history. His 3,764 career receiving yards ranks him number 8 all-time, ahead of Raider greats Art Powell
and Pro Football Hall of Fame
r, Dave Casper
. His 18.01 average yards per catch for his career is first among any receiver to wear the Raiders' Silver and Black. In 1988
, Fernandez led NFL receivers in average yards per catch (26.0).
Arguably, Fernandez's finest year was 1989
, when he made 57 catches for 1,069 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading all Raiders’ receivers in almost every major category, and becoming only the sixth Raider to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
and works as a sales representative
. He is also an avid sport fisherman
. His son, Joe Fernandez, was a wide receiver at Fresno State University, who tried out but failed to make the final roster of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks
in 2007
.
Merced, California
Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government...
) is a former professional American
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
player who played wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
.
Fernandez was a two-time CFL All-Star (1984-1985) and is a member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame. In 2003
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
, Fernandez was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the wide receiver position
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In 2006
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
, Fernandez was voted one of the CFL's Top 50 players
TSN Top 50 CFL Players
The TSN Top 50 CFL Players was a list of the greatest fifty Canadian Football League players, as selected by a panel of sixty former CFL players, then-current and former coaches, executives, and media members in 2006. The panel was assembled by sports television network TSN in partnership with the...
(#42) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
.
High school & college career
Fernandez was a standout wide receiverWide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
for Andrew Hill High School
Andrew Hill High School
Andrew Putnam Hill High School is a secondary school located in San Jose, California which opened in 1956, and educates students in grades 9–12. It is part of the East Side Union High School District . As of 2007, the school principal is Ms. Bettina Lopez. Currently, the Associate Principal of...
in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, where he picked up his famous nickname "Swervin' Mervyn" from the team's quarterback.
Following high school, Fernandez played at DeAnza Junior College
De Anza College
De Anza College is a community college located in Cupertino, California. It was founded in 1967 on the site of the Beaulieu Winery and is named after the Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza...
in Cupertino, California
Cupertino, California
Cupertino is an affluent suburban city in Santa Clara County, California in the U.S., directly west of San Jose on the western edge of the Santa Clara Valley with portions extending into the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The population was 58,302 at the time of the 2010 census. Forbes...
, before finishing his college career at nearby San José State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
. It was at San José State that Oakland Raider's staff members took notice of the 6'3", 205 pound, speedy wide receiver, and the Raiders eventually made Fernandez their 10th round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft
1983 NFL Draft
The 1983 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 26–27, 1983...
.
Canadian Football League career
Fernandez spent his entire six-year CFLCanadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
career (1982-1986, 1994) with the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
. Fernandez joined the Lions in 1982
1982 CFL season
The 1982 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 29th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 25th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1982:After the 1981 season the Montreal Alouettes folded...
, and made an immediate impact, finishing his rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards (1,046), and helping his team to 9-7 record. Fernandez won the CFL Western Division Most Outstanding Rookie award
Jackie Parker Trophy
The Jackie Parker Trophy is a Canadian Football League trophy is awarded annually to the Most Outstanding Rookie in the West Division, since 1974. Each team in the West Division nominates a candidate from which a winner is chosen, and either this winner or the winner of the Frank M. Gibson Trophy...
, and was a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie award as well.
After two 1,000-yard seasons, Fernandez was a key component in the BC Lions
BC Lions
The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team competing in the West Division of Canadian Football League . Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Lions play their home games at BC Place Stadium in Downtown Vancouver, having previously played at Empire Stadium in East Vancouver from 1954...
Grey Cup
Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is both the name of the championship of the Canadian Football League and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is Canada's largest annual sports and television event, regularly drawing a Canadian viewing audience of about 3 to 4 million individuals...
championship season of 1985
1985 CFL season
The 1985 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 32nd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 28th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1985:...
. Fernandez finished the season with 95 catches and 1,727 yards for an 18.2 yards per reception average, along with 15 touchdowns. Despite being injured and not playing in the game,following the Lions' 37-24 triumph over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
in the 73rd Grey Cup
73rd Grey Cup
The 73rd Grey Cup was the 1985 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, between the BC Lions and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats...
, Fernandez became the first Lion to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award.
Fernandez, a two-time CFL All-Star (1984-1985) and member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame, was finally persuaded by Al Davis
Al Davis
Allen "Al" Davis was an American football executive. He was the principal owner of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League from 1970 to 2011...
and the Raiders to head south and join the NFL, following the 1986 CFL season
1986 CFL season
The 1986 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 33rd season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 29th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1986:...
.
In 2003
2003 CFL season
The 2003 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 50th season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 46th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 2003:...
, Fernandez was voted a member of the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team, at the wide receiver position
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, as part of the club’s 50 year anniversary celebration. In November, 2006
2006 CFL season
-2006 Rogers CFL Awards:* CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award – Geroy Simon , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions* CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Brent Johnson , BC Lions...
, Fernandez was voted one of the CFL's top 50 players (#42) of the league's modern era by Canadian sports network TSN
The Sports Network
The Sports Network, commonly abbreviated as TSN, is a Canadian English language Category C specialty channel and is Canada's leading English language sports TV channel. TSN premiered in 1984, in the first group of Canadian specialty cable channels...
.
National Football League career
Fernandez spent his entire 6-year NFL career (1987-1992) with one team: the Los Angeles Raiders. During that span, Fernandez played in 86 games and amassed 209 catches for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns. While Fernandez never made the Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
, he did leave his mark on the Raiders’ record books. His 209 career catches are 10th most by any receiver in Raiders’ history. His 3,764 career receiving yards ranks him number 8 all-time, ahead of Raider greats Art Powell
Art Powell
-Early career:Powell attended and played high school football at San Diego High School and played college football at San José State University.-Professional career:...
and Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
r, Dave Casper
Dave Casper
David John Casper , nicknamed "The Ghost." is a former American football player. He was an offensive lineman and tight end.-High school:...
. His 18.01 average yards per catch for his career is first among any receiver to wear the Raiders' Silver and Black. In 1988
1988 NFL season
The 1988 NFL season was the 69th regular season of the National Football League. The Cardinals relocated from St. Louis, Missouri to the Phoenix, Arizona area becoming the Phoenix Cardinals but remained in the NFC East division....
, Fernandez led NFL receivers in average yards per catch (26.0).
Arguably, Fernandez's finest year was 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
, when he made 57 catches for 1,069 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading all Raiders’ receivers in almost every major category, and becoming only the sixth Raider to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
Post-football life
Fernandez currently lives in Morgan Hill, CaliforniaMorgan Hill, California
Morgan Hill is a city located in the southern part of Santa Clara County, California, United States. Founded on November 10, 1906, the city was named after Hiram Morgan Hill, a San Franciscan who built a country retreat home there in 1884...
and works as a sales representative
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
. He is also an avid sport fisherman
Angling
Angling is a method of fishing by means of an "angle" . The hook is usually attached to a fishing line and the line is often attached to a fishing rod. Fishing rods are usually fitted with a fishing reel that functions as a mechanism for storing, retrieving and paying out the line. The hook itself...
. His son, Joe Fernandez, was a wide receiver at Fresno State University, who tried out but failed to make the final roster of the NFL's Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
in 2007
2007 NFL season
The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30....
.