bellevue high school football scandal

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. 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. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. In response to allegations against the Bellevue booster club, KingCo ruled that the Bellevue football program cannot receive any donations for four years, including money, equipment and products from outside entities. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. Back to work tomorrow!. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". Copyright 2023, The Spokesman-Review | Community Guidelines | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy, A Grip on Sports: The action, good and bad, hits a little closer to home today, ESPN analysts expect 'rocking' Kennel for GameDay show, 'heavyweight fight' in Gonzaga-Saint Mary's nightcap , 'Growing up I can say I fell victim to being a Gonzaga fan.' We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. How did the adults never ask how it was that their kid was taking classes in a $1,750 per month school, yet they never got a tuition bill? And oh, by the way, how is it fair that a public school has limits on the geographic locations of its players homes,but private schools players can live anywhere? It was a back and forth affair from the beginning that saw the Wolverines take a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? There are plenty of opinions during the aftermath of an investigation that found the Bellevue High School football team engaged in potentially illegal recruiting tactics, but one common thread is a lack of shock. Make it hurt. Many would perhaps have fallen through the cracks had it not been for the help they received when it was obvious to coaches they needed a little boost. In Q2, senior Ishaan Daniels added his own long TD run, and quarterback Lucas Razore added not one, but two, TD passes to fellow junior Blake Teets (one for 19 yards, one for 43). 1 Bellevue past No. KingCo reviewed sanctions that Bellevue had proposed for itself in the wake of a 68-page independent report that found wide-ranging rules violations within the program. 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. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). The team won 11 state championships in 15 years, including a 67-game winning streak. 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. 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. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. The defense continued their stifling business, while the offense added a 27-yard Lucas Razore-to-Hogan Hansen TD, and a 39-yard Daniels TD run, leading to a comfortable first quarter lead. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. 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. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) They scammed the system and stole the opportunities of hometown players, stoleplayers from schools that could have used the talent to grow their ownteams, and stole titles from teams that they played. It hid and manipulated scientific and medical research and evidence to hide the price their players were paying on the field due to head injuries. In the post-game interview, Coach Kneip told KING5, Its really fun to come out here in this great environment, packed house, theyre a great football team. ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. 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. Bellevue can appeal for that sanction to be reduced one year early. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Who do these kids think they are? What makes them think they are so deserving? You know what? 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. Two former teachers told the Times the Academic Institute doesnt adhere to basic educational standards. Players need a 2.0 GPA with no more than one failing class to compete athletically. Weve seen a couple of surveys about Seattles happiness rating, one shows us near the top for happiness, and one has us closer to the bottom. He openly shared details of his high school experiences, saying he felt like the program was putting kids in a poor position to succeed after high school and that he didnt want to see the program have a negative impact on others in the future. Fire and fine all involved. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. The NFL is the big example. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Now, we cannot be completely naive. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. 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. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. We love the playoffs, Coach Kneip said postgame, this is the best time of the year, and were ready to get after it!. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. 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. 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. This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory I am old enough to remember corruption being the norm in the old Southwest Conference: fake jobs, hundred dollar handshakes and far, far worse. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. Voted as the KING 5 Sports Big Game of the Week, the 4-2 Wolverines once again headed north on 405 for a KingCo 3A showdown, this time with the 4-1 Lake Washington Kangs. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. "It's not just Bellevue. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. A series of three books describing the storied history of the Bellevue High School Football program, and the investigations that surrounded the team from 2006 to 2018. "He's still a vital part of the picture. Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue boosters paid the tuition of athletes at The Academic Institute. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. 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. 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. 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. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. But the program's remarkable success has. Then, on Monday, the JV took the field north of the lake, against the Bothell Cougars. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. 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. Bellevue (Wash.) School District officials are planning to fire the head coach of the Bellevue High School football team, according to a letter sent to the coach by a top district official and . The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. Coach Salonen said, We feel incredibly lucky to have the numbers to support a JV program this year, we love seeing the additional reps these players are getting, and the improvement that comes with those reps.. Along the way, competitors have complained that Bellevue was bending the rules. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. 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. These efforts were and are fully within the rules., The boosters vowed to continue to fight. Latest Updates. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. "I would say the rules are loose. Following the varsitys team lead from Friday night, the Wolverine JV got things going quickly with several big runs by sophomore Matt Reed, and the race was on. Great highlight video Breed initially denied any involvement, but in December of 2015 pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury, was placed on probation and gave up teaching. "That report will be forwarded to the WIAA, which will adjudicate the punishments and will allow Bellevue High School a chance to appeal.". That would be easy. We love to see the kids have fun and play ball. The community was stunned. 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. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. 12 Mead in the first round of the Class 3A state football playoffs 41-10 as Bellevue rode its potent rushing attack to a dominant victory that puts it just two wins from their second consecutive state championship game appearance. The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. Which spelled out who could live in certain neighborhoods. Final score 42-0. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. If that wasnt enough, the main boosters involved are discussing suing the conference over the penalties and coach Goncharoff says he has been set up. State District . Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 2021 State Champs! Here is a selection of the. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. At a Tuesday news conference, Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills said the report contains information that requires immediate action, but the district has not saidwhat that action will be. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. Cheerleaders capture the crowds attention during the game, but one group of Texas high school cheerleaders captured the attention of the entire nation due to their outlandish behavior. 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. Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. November 4, 2022. The specifics of what happened is more symbolic of what is preposterously wrong with parents who lack the ability to teach their kids the responsibilities of being a student athlete. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. Freemans parents criticized the Times reporters who wrote the Bellevue High story, saying they hounded and harassed their son and tricked him into saying things that he has no knowledge of. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. 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. Good kids and families participated in Bellevuefootball, but there were also some people who stepped over the line. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. At least two families of football players received tuition assistance coordinated by the teams wealthy supporters, according to interviews and documents. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. The SHIBA program part of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner is ready to help with your Medicare open enrollment decisions. It's false. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory Goncharoff released a statement after KingCos sanctions were handed down. 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. The blatant efforts by school and district officials to obstruct the investigation demonstrate their complicity in cheating, their utter disregard for the truth and their complete lack of integrity. Earlier this year, one family complained that an assistant coach threatened to revoke their sons financial aid at Academic Institute if the student didnt continue playing football at Bellevue. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. Bellevue has 12 buildings taller than 25 stories, 10 of them built since 2005. Last year, after a Seattle Times story detailed how numerous Bellevue players had taken classes at The Academic Institute, a private alternative school that former teachers described as a diploma mill, the school district called for an independent investigation. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. What is your main job as a parent? The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. Really? To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. And then there is the claim within the report that some of the misdeeds were not so secretive; they were just direct cash payments to families to get players to Bellevue. Thiel said the complaints have been leveled at the Bellevue High School football program for years, but the scandal erupted after an investigation by the Seattle Times last year. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. football coach makes appeal after ban. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. Photos: William Wang powers No. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. Bellevue High School in Bellevue, Washington is one of the most successful high school football programs in the country, with 11 state titles in 15 years, a 67-game winning streak covering some of that period and a national footprint that has had them playing on ESPN. That was released a few months ago. Brick by brick!. The state high school governing body, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), is looking into whether state titles need to be stripped and further sanctions imposed. Top-ranked 3A Wolverines get all they want for three-plus quarters, but Wing-T (342 rushing yards) generates big fourth-quarter scoring plays to pull away. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. Even private schools require the students attend classes at that institution and make the grades to play, not go to a strip-mall diploma mill., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Among the players who have attended Academic Institute were those instrumental in Bellevues recent 67-game winning streak: Myles Jack, a linebacker now at UCLA; Marcus Griffin, a defensive tackle at the University of Arizona; and Max Richmond, a wide receiver at the University of Washington. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. It's finally come to a head. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations, Week 11 Playoff Matchups - Bellevue 42, Lakes 21, (Nov 12, 2021), This website is powered by SportsEngine's. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. But Notre Dame-bound RB Jayden Limar led a second half comeback, eventually closing the game out 37-28. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. 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. David R. Evans On the eve of a Halloween weekend, the Bellevue faithful showed up in droves (and costumes) to celebrate another fantastic class of Bellevue High seniors. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. "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. A talented Wolves team got out to a very fast start and never looked back, and the Wolverines found themselves on the wrong end of a running clock in the second half. BELLEVUE REBOUNDS AT HOME VS LIBERTY, TOUGH START FOR WOLVERINES AGAINST TOP RANKED OPPONENTS, Former UW Lineman Is Lead Blocker in Returning Bellevue High to Prominence, Yelm goes length of field to end Bellevue's state championship reign, 28-27, PHOTOS: Yelm edges past Bellevue, 28-27, to earn title shot, VIDEO Game Highlights from Lincoln Playoff Game, 3A Quarterfinal, Bellevues 43-yard field goal breaks the hearts and playoff hopes of Lincoln Read more at: https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/high-school/article2, With Bellevue in need of a season-saving spark, Luke Scoma delivers - with his foot, Bellevue tops 400 yards rushing to beat Mead in 3A state football playoffs, Bellevue football team defeats Snohomish in non-conference game. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! 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. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. It starts with having no sports-specific booster clubs and school administrators having the courage and will to take responsibility for sustaining integrity rather than empty victories.