bellevue high school football scandal bellevue high school football scandal

At least two families of football players received tuition assistance coordinated by the teams wealthy supporters, according to interviews and documents. The Bellevue grads on staff are Jake Hiller (2010, offensive line coach), Morgann Richey (2014, offensive line), Ryan Gilbert (2015, defensive backs), Jack Michael (2015, defensive backs), Matt Gilbert (2012, defensive coordinator), AJ Kneip (2016, offensive line/strength coach), Miles Carlson (2016, defensive back), Quinn Sullivan (2018, linebackers), Joe Razore (1997, offensive coordinator), Cam Johnson (1999, wide receivers), Peter Nguyen (2009, wide receivers) and Jojo Connor (2010, quarterbacks). In the second quarter, junior Carson Rubin got on the board with an thrilling 80 TD run, Razore completed his second TD pass of the day (once again to Hansen, of course), and senior DB Caymus Rooney took an interception 40 yards to the house. 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School District officials are planning to fire the head coach, Bellevue coaches clearly violated eligibility rules for years, Clemson gets commitment from 4-star North Cobb RB David Eziomume, Vermont HS girls basketball team forfeits rather than face transgender opponent, USA TODAY Sports Super 25 high school basketball rankings, week of Feb. 27, 2023, Sierra Canyon 4-star small forward AJ Swinton commits to Virgnia Tech, Imhotep Institute CB Kenny Woseley names top 4 schools, commitment date, Centennial boys basketball 3-peats as champions with buzzer-beater dunk, 'The Last of Us' actor, deaf youth hockey player meets Alexander Ovechkin in heartwarming video, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. Bellevue has 12 buildings taller than 25 stories, 10 of them built since 2005. Adults knew this was going on for years. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. Tornados drive 94 yards on 16 plays, capped by Damian Aalona's 1-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown, to win action-packed Class 3A semifinal game at Art Crate Field. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue High School football coach Butch Goncharoff told the school board Tuesday that an investigation of the football . The evidence shows that the practices KingCo now is penalizing including summer sports camps for kids and paying coaches for extra work outside of the season were approved by Bellevue School District and are shared by many, many area schools, the statement said. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. After the Seattle Times story was published on Sunday, a distraught Darien Freeman called a Times reporter, saying hed just spoken with Goncharoff. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. 5. Great highlight video Arguably one of the best high school teams ever fielded in Texas, the 1988 Dallas Carter Cowboys were loaded with talent on both sides of the ball. Editors note: After the original Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 the newspaper followed up with another article in which the parents of Darien Freeman disputed portions of the first article that were attributed to their son. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. The KingCo Conference report, released earlier this week, said that while players were illegally recruited to play for Bellevue, some used false addresses to be eligible within Bellevues residential district. A video of Bellevue East High School's And that lofty tuition bill? Saint Mary's guard Logan Johnson knows both sides of the Zags-Gaels rivalry , "It should be an awesome environment": Gonzaga's WCC title hopes depend on outcome vs. Gaels , Gonzaga rewind: Ben Gregg continues to thrive in expanded role, helps Gonzaga thump San Diego , Daily marijuana use raises risk of heart disease by 34%, study indicates, 'Growing up I can say I fell victim to being a Gonzaga fan.' Led by senior running back William Wang as the wrecking ball of destruction in Bellevues vaunted Wing-T rushing attack, the Wolverines dogged Rainier Beach all night on the ground in a 56-22 triumph on Friday night in Class 3A state quarterfinals at Bellevue High School, Highlights of Bellevue's 56-22 win over Rainier Beach in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Playoffs. The long-running nature of the corruption uncovered by this investigation could only have occurred with the explicit or tacit approval of Bellevue High Schooland Bellevue School District administrators, as the reportvividly details. There are many changes that should be made but they will never happen because our society places much more value on their teams winning than they do on oureducation system., This incident underscores what happens when booster clubs are permitted for specific sports and when those clubs put their own egos and insecurities above the appropriate life lessons to be gained and promoted from participation in school activities. Three players robbed a Jack in the Box, two star players robbed a video exchange at gunpoint and walked away with $256 and robbed a mexican restaurant taking $11,000. The community was stunned. The SHIBA program part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner is ready to help with your Medicare open enrollment decisions. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. 4. 2021 State Champs! The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. Luke Scoma wins it for Bellevue with his 43-yard field goal in Wolverines' 22-20 win over Lincoln of Tacoma in Class 3A quarterfinals. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. From changing grades and playing ineligible players to substance abuse and violence, these five scandals marred the face of the king of all sports in Texas. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. There are absolutely no facts to support KingCos conclusion they have foolishly relied on the false inferences of the WIAAs original report, Goncharoffs statement said. He is a member of the Football Writers Association of America, and is a voting panelist for the Outland Trophy, the Nagurski Award, and the Biletnikoff Award. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. Fire them all immediately.. Final score 42-0. How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. Agreed with Bellevues conclusions that athletes used false addresses to gain eligibility, and that payments were made to coaches without approval from the school district. The Bellevue football program was placed on a three-year probation last year for two self-reported violations, which allowed KingCo to hand down more severe sanctions. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) The WIAS must close this loophole immediately, conduct a comprehensive investigation into the 17 Bellevue High School football players who were offered a distinct advantage over other high schools in the state and should take the following action if there is one shred of evidence of chicanery: 1. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Daniels got the second half rolling with his fourth house call of the game, and Luke Scoma added a late field goal to give the Wolverines a 44-13 win. Embattled Bellevue High School football coaches took another hit Friday as an executive board made up of high school principals increased penalties for the head . Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. Come one, come all! The startup funding should be part of the investigation. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. Bellevue Highs football squad completed an undefeated season by winning the 3A state championship with a 17-13 triumph over Kennewick High on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. ONeil, however, says its misguided to think playing for Bellevue will be a ticket to free higher education, even if its a slightly more noble idea than parents creating super teams to win high school championships. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game. The movie portrayed the girls as ruthless in their quest to run the school. The KingCo Conference came down hard on Bellevue High School football Tuesday, banning the embattled program from postseason play for four years, prohibiting outside donations for four years and tightening oversight of incoming transfers for two years. Dinner and dancing may have been the order of the day on Saturday, but on Friday night, Wolverine students packed the stands to see the Bellevue High football team demolish their crosstown rival Newport Knights. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. The NFL is the big example. Bellevue High's football squad completed an undefeated season by winning the 3A state championship with a 17-13 triumph over Kennewick High on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. It's false. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. Players attend the school for academics but are allowed to play football at Bellevue if they live in the proper district. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). No, its not something we want to teach our kids as the right thing to do, he said. David R. Evans The KingCo Conference has levied sanctions against the school that include four years of probation for the entire athletic department,no road games or out-of-conference games for two years, no money funneled into the program from any source for four years, no postseason play for four years and no out-of-state opponents (a big source of revenue) for four years. I think the system is prone to corruption. Bellevue H.S. And in years where cheating was determined to have occurred, titles should be forfeited. A video of two football players from John Jay High School in San Antonio went viral in September of 2015 after they blindsided a referee near the end of a game versus Marble Falls. Following the string of robberies, six players were sentenced to prison with terms ranging from two to 25 years. Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. At least 17 Bellevue football players attended the program over the past seven years, the Seattle Times has learned. State District . This fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. The events took place under the watch of school district officials who conceded that discounted tuition for athletes would constitute a violation of state athletic rules, a district document shows. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. It's not a state agency. There are a lot of reasons why he thinks the rules were wrongly interpreted by the investigators. football coach makes appeal after ban. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. The first loss came at the hands of back-to-back Oregon 6A state champions, Central Catholic, on a field goal as time expired, which gave CCHS the first lead theyd had since early in the second quarter. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. By: Logan Newman, https://usatodayhss.com/2016/bellevue-wash-expected-to-fire-coach-butch-goncharoff-cheating-scandal, Bellevue (Wash.) expected to fire coach at center of alleged football cheating scandal. "They also discovered that there was a small school within the school called the Academic Institute, which was privately funded by a lot of the boosters to give educations to students who were struggling. Next week, both teams face a tough and up-and-coming Lake Washington team Varsity on Friday at LW (7pm), JV on Monday at home (7pm). Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Instead, athletes became eligible to play for the football powerhouse by traveling to a Bellevue office park for classes at an obscure, 40-student private school: The Academic Institute, Inc. The silver lining from one of the biggest scandals in Texas high school football history is the number of players who went on to continue their football careers in college. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. Records reviewed by the Seattle Times, however, show that Freemans father has had a home address in Auburn. The train wreck at Bellevue may be symbolic of much that is wrong with high school and college athletics and the creation of the entitled teenager and the grotesque flow of money into amateur sports. Playoffs: No postseason games for four years, Boosters: No donations to program for four years, Games: Only KingCo 3A opponents for two years; no out-of-state opponents for four years, Transfers: Stricter guidelines, oversight for incoming transfer students for two years, Championships: Vacate Bellevues conference titles if WIAA determines that state titles should be forfeited. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. An anonymous tip led the UIL to investigate claims Carters star player, Gary Edwards had failed Algebra and had violated the states No Pass, No Play policy. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. The win at all costs mentality, and the sad state of parents living vicariously through their childs athletic accomplishments, has put a pockmark on youth sports. It should be a Homecoming to remember! Bellevue can appeal for that sanction to be reduced one year early. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. 5 Marysville-Pilchuck on Saturday in the early game of the Class 3A semifinal doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. That would be a likely violation of rules that generally require student-athletes to live within a schools attendance boundary. SEATTLE An independent investigation into the Bellevue High football team uncovered "significant and long-standing violations" of state sports rules and extensive evidence that the team's. Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. Nobody is talking about the kids who lived in-district whose spots were taking by athletic carpetbaggers., Sothe investigation found that, among other things, Bellevue boosters paid tuitionfor some players to attend an alternative school (just like many kids do) in order to receive instruction, compatible with their learning styles,that they needed to improve their academic standing. %link% She handles most sports coverage at the station, including helping produce a two-part series on the 50th anniversary of Title IX and the ongoing series "Going Deep.". He can also be found on twitter @tonybruin, Unrecognizable U.S. Mens National Team Defeats Costa Rica, NBA Finals: Cleveland Cavaliers win Game 3 Convincingly over Golden State Warriors. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. The Times found at least three instances in which families of players attending the school were either given financial assistance by the team's boosters or didn't pay for the tuition themselves, a violation of state athletic rules. Food, Drink, and Coastal Christmas Anacortes has it all. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. "And if you can wiggle around with all of these variances in the rules, then they've got a real problem.". After finding steroids in her sons athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after verifying the contents through a local drug store. After the game, Coach Kneip said, Our job is to put our kids in the best position to win a state championship, and that means challenging ourselves against the best opponents we can possibly find for our non-conference games.. Fire and fine all involved. That probe confirmed some of the problems that The Times found and also detailed other issues, including families that had used false addresses to gain eligibility, a school district that had obstructed the investigation and evidence that Goncharoff had been paid beyond the bounds of WIAA rules. The newspaper further documented its original article: The parents of a former Bellevue High School football player have disputed their sons account of his time on the team, calling a Sunday Seattle Times articleon the subject false and misleading.. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. The investigation was prompted, in part, by an exposure in the Seattle Times last summer that found an underbelly of fraudulent academics, illegal recruiting and of course, money. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. With ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary What Carter Lost screening Aug. 24, audiences are primed to remember the glory and scandal that surrounded Dallas Carter High School's football team nearly 30 . This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. One player who attended the Institute told the Times he took one class without a teacher, and the school's director gave him a book and test questions to study. Team supporters have battled the Bellevue School Districts decisions. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. It's a guaranteed story that will be told for generations, with a record that will be likely painted up on a water tower or on a city's welcome sign. Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. That was released a few months ago. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. You can read the Times' entire investigation here. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. Along the way, competitors have complained that Bellevue was bending the rules. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. But what happens when bending the rules or covering for players becomes a real life story; the infractions are so extensive and the storylines so indelicate that no TV producer would even believe it. Dubbed The Fab Five, McKinney North High Schools Fab Five became the focus of a made for TV movie when photos of the cheerleaders drinking, scantily clad and engaging in risque behavior landed them in hot water with the cheer sponsor. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. Jones has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint with the Public Employment Relations Commission. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. Freeman said he may have misunderstood the conversation about rent and that it was possible Goncharoff had only worked to help the family find a place to rent in Bellevue. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. "I would say the rules are loose. Really? After starting the season in Sports Illustrateds SB Live Top 25, the Wolverines found themselves on the wrong end of two tightly contested losses to start their 2022 campaign. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. Or that they never had homework from that school? "They said four years of probation for the entire athletic department, a four-year ban for football on postseason play, and also non-conference play, as well as inviting any out-of-state opponents to play Bellevue High School. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. 1 Bellevue past No. BELLEVUE, Ky. (WXIX) - Bellevue police are stepping up for the high-school football team in their community after this week's news that the rest of the . The coach should be a faculty member and actually teach classes., These coaches and families have only helped these kids progress in a more beneficial way through life. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! According to the findings, 17 players were funneled to a for-profit private school for extra classes and academic help. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. The booster club should be disbanded. In an article about how Bellevues success was aided by a small private school, Freeman, 20, told the Times that he lived in four different cities during his years with the Bellevue football team Sammamish, Bellevue, Auburn and SeaTac. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program, Seattle Times story detailed how numerous Bellevue players had taken classes at The Academic Institute, a private alternative school. In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. These are the kinds of challenges we look for., Then, this past Friday, the Wolverines made the long drive up to Lake Stevens High School, home of the preseason 4A #1 Vikings. "They also discovered compensation to the head coach, Butch Goncharoff, of $60,000 a year that was well in excess of what the standards are for high school coaches.". We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Accepted a Bellevue resolution that it will not renew contracts for two years of coaches who violated the WIAA rule that stipends and gifts of more than $500 must be approved by the school board. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. Location: Bellevue . Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue boosters paid the tuition of athletes at The Academic Institute. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. Bellevue High School has established itself as one of the premier prep football programs in the nation with 11 state titles in the past 15 years.