bellevue high school football scandal

The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. 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. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. Following the string of robberies, six players were sentenced to prison with terms ranging from two to 25 years. Staff reporter Mike Baker contributed to this report. Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. That leads to what the money was used for. 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. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. 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 . Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. Among the violations, the 68-page report found thatplayers families provided false address to gain eligibility and that head coach ButchGoncharoff encouraged players to attend classes at a private alternative school where some of the players tuition was subsidized by the programs booster club. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. Or, at the very least, put on administrative leave along with the schools athletic director until a thorough investigation is has been completed into the financial records (who paid what) and academic record of Academic Institute Inc., in Bellevue. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. Final score: Wolverines 53, Panthers 12. For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Bellevue is a public school district. Go re-read this story, and you will have your answers. That would be easy. 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. 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. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. They were outlandishly gravy training on their 17 or 18 year old kids football ability. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? The booster club should be disbanded. Now lets see a similar investigation into sports programs at every private high school in the state to determine just how many of their players parents are paying full tuition. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. Theyre going to find you. To do whats best for your kid, he said. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. 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. 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. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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. This isnt just about high school sports. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue School District officials and booster club members are fighting back against a blistering report that alleged recruitment violations within the Bellevue High. And that lofty tuition bill? Fire them all immediately.. 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. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Sat Nov 26 L . 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.". Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. As reported by the Seattle Times, which has led the investigation of the Bellevue scandal throughout, the Bellevue program made at least $175,000 in payments to on leave head football coach Butch . 710 ESPN Seattles Danny ONeil thinks the parents are misguided. 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. 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. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. %link% Or that they never had homework from that school? Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. 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. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. 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. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. 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. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. An independent investigation found a series of violations at the powerhouse football program, including that coaches directed athletes to attend the school, that boosters paid for athletes tuition, that false addresses were used to gain eligibility and that coaches coordinated tuition payments for athletes. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. 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. "And if you can wiggle around with all of these variances in the rules, then they've got a real problem.". This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. Maybe there is some truth to some stories, and maybe it is just random speculation, but it is out there, usually in the private school arena. New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory, Back on top: Bellevue beats Kennewick to win 3A state title behind William Wangs 243 yards, Bellevue runs over Marysville-Pilchuck to return to state football championship game, William Wangs career night lifts No. 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. 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. In its findings released a few hours earlier, the KingCo committee: Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue illegally recruited athletes to the school and coordinated payments for athletes, and that Bellevue failed to self-report money provided to players families. 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. 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. Location: Bellevue . One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. Bellevue has also been the subject of a nearly year-long investigation by the KingCo Conference, the league governing body for high school athletics in King County. 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. 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. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists, a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom. 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. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. 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. 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. 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). On the shoulders of some hard running by junior Carson Rubin and sophomore Ryken Moon, a long reception by senior Ishaan Daniels, and a heaping helping of stingy defense, Bellevue took a 47-7 lead to the locker room at half time. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. They say proposed project will negatively impact Minidoka internment camp site. "It's not just Bellevue. The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. 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. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! Often it would be well past dark by the time he returned home. 1. Due to state-wide ref shortages, the Wolverines trip to the jungle at Mercer Island High School was moved from Friday night to Thursday. The community was stunned. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. 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. Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years 4. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. 5. The Times uncovered 17 instances of Bellevue players who attend the Academic Institute, a small private school which does not offer football, in the last seven years. Jones began coaching at . Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. 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. 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. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. Earlier this week, the Bellevue School District requestedan investigation of the football program by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which governs prep sports in the state. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. 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 . The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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? They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. 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). 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. Gifts processed in this system are not tax deductible, but are predominately used to help meet the local financial requirements needed to receive national matching-grant funds. 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. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. In the second half, Bellevue let their young guns get a taste of the MI rivalry under the big lights, and played out the remainder of the game under a running clock. Senior running back William Wang rushed for 243 yards and two touchdowns to lead Bellevue to a 3A state championship win over Kennewick on Saturday afternoon at Sparks Stadium. Strip them of their titles going back to 2001. Texas HS Football State Champions: 1920-2022, 2022 3A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, TXHSFB Podcast Championship Edition: Benjamin Mustangs, 2022 2A Fan Vote All-Texas High School Football Team, Texas HS Football Fan Vote Player Of The Year.