bellevue high school football scandal

We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. 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). "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. Who do these kids think they are? What makes them think they are so deserving? You know what? Its a disgrace that this has gone on as long as it has. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. 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. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. 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.' Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. It should be a Homecoming to remember! 1 talking about this. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. 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. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! 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. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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. 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. 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). Adults knew this was going on for years. While the Institute touts its focus on education at a full-time cost of $1,750 per month two former teachers label Academic Institute a diploma mill that doesnt adhere to basic educational standards. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe A high school state football championship in Texas is arguably about more than just temporary bragging rights. KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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 . ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. The sanctions are the latest chapter in the saga of investigations, appeals and denials concerning one of the most successful prep-football programs in state history. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. 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. If our society didnt place such a level of importance on winning at all costs, this type of thing wouldnt happen. On November 10, the UIL shocked Dallas Carter and the entire state when they announced the Cowboys were ineligible for the playoffs. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. No, its not something we want to teach our kids as the right thing to do, he said. to Bellevue so college recruiters will notice you; its absurd., An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. Rantz is much less critical of the Bellevue parents saying that, assuming the allegations are true, putting a student in the position to gain a college scholarship is a noble pursuit. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. Then, on Monday, the JV took the field north of the lake, against the Bothell Cougars. %link% At least 42 transfer students contributed to Bellevue's football team from 2008 to 2015, according to the report, for a program that has reached 13 Class 3A state championship games in the past. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Now, we cannot be completely naive. 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. Fire them all immediately.. 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 Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. Darien Freeman had said he lived in that city during his 2009-10 freshman season. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. 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 . Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. In their opening possession, Carson Rubin zigged and zagged, dicing the defense with a 29-yard touchdown run. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. The No. Great highlight video Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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. 1. An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. Carter High . All the coaches involved should lose their jobs and be required to return any money they received that was above the amount they were legally entitled to. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. But, we would be lying if we said that there wasnt at least a benefit to these kids.. 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. 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.. Sophomore Ollie Sharp, and freshmen Max Jones also found the end zone, en route to a 46-7 Bellevue win, capping their first JV tour in years. 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. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. 1 Bellevue past No. Here is a selection of the responses we received: Bellevue High Schools titles need to be removed. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. The players were ejected from the game, suspended and an investigation launched. JV Head Coach Danny Salonen was upbeat after the game, we never like to lose games like this, there are plenty of fundamentals on both sides of the ball that need cleaning up, but I cant imagine a better opportunity for our young guys and newer players to play a ton of football. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. 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. The Wolverines will face Snohomish High School, at home this Friday, in the Week 10 Crossover round. Rather than worry about imposing sanctions, it is more important that the Bellevue School District starts to do the right thing, going forward, meaning itneeds to replace the coaching staff, probably shun the booster club, and start exercising control by hiring a head coach who is also a teacher within the educational system., What sanctions are appropriate for people in positions of authority supposed role models for kids when they actively participate in or turn a blind eye to corruption and then do everything in their power to impede legitimate investigations? Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. 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. Mostly because they were too busy taking advantage of the whole in the system for their own benefit. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. The Bellevue football story became national news in 2016 as false accusations of recruiting by the twelve-time state champions and 2012 national champions took center stage. My son plays football as a freshman at Liberty High School, and of course the teams one loss this past year was to Bellevue. All rights reserved. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. And in years where cheating was determined to have occurred, titles should be forfeited. For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. 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. These efforts were and are fully within the rules., The boosters vowed to continue to fight. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. 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. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. Goncharoff got a slap on the wrist, just a two-game suspension for providing cash to a player when he should have been suspended for the season and the school banned from post season play. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. 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. It was a reminder of the Wolverines glorious past that got them fired up this week thanks to comments from Marysville-Pilchuck star running back Dylan Carson that fueled them for Saturdays matchup. Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Freemans parents, Yusef and Allona, wrote in a letter this week to the school district that their son lived in the Bellevue attendance area. 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. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. Varsity takes the field this Saturday (10/8) at Juanita, at 7pm, while the JV will face Juanita at home the following Monday. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. 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. Players attend the school for academics but are allowed to play football at Bellevue if they live in the proper district. KNKX Public Radio | 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. After the half, the BHS offense really got rolling, including a 44-yard TD run from junior Blake Teets, a 24-yard TD run from sophomore Ryken Moon, and a screen pass from Razore that junior Cal Zimmerman took 21 yards to pay dirt. 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.. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Despite the short week, the Wolverines came out fast against a spirited Islander squad, thanks to TDs from Ishaan Daniels, Carson Rubin, and Kaden Matsudaira, culminating in a 35-0 halftime lead. On BHSs ensuing possession, junior QB Lucas Razore found Ishaan Daniels in the flat, and Daniels scampered 30 yards for the Bellevue score. 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. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Senior William Wang piled up 182 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 32 carries, and the Bellevue defense was tough as the top-seeded Wolverines laid a 27-3 licking on No. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal. After their work in the back half of the Friday night game, the Bellevue JV made the Monday drive to the Sammamish Plateau, to face off against KingCo 4A opponent Eastlake Wolves. What is your main job as a parent? The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. Armstead is also in the New York Giants Ring of Honor. Bier on the Pier takes place on October 7th and 8th and features local ciders, food trucks and live music - not to mention the beautiful views of the Guemes Channel and backdrop of downtown Anacortes. 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. Final score: Wolverines 53, Panthers 12. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. 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 . football coach makes appeal after ban. Bellevue can appeal for that sanction to be reduced one year early. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. Freeman described in detail the hours he spent busing from Auburn to Bellevue, catching a 5:30 a.m. bus to start class around 8:15. This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) Its unfortunate for the kids who played therebut also hard on those who played against Bellevue, too. 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. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. And because it's now going to be subject to many lawsuits, there's going to be huge pressure and there should be huge pressure to reform the entire structure of state high school sports. 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. Final score, 49-6, Eastlake. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. 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. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. Food, Drink, and Coastal Christmas Anacortes has it all. 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. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. The NFL is the big example. 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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. Washington needs more than 1 million homes in the next 20 years, Islanders speak out against Lava Ridge Wind Project, WA Lottery reveals Auburn woman as winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Victim energy is a siren song to which we must stop our ears | Whales Tales, Teams roll into action on renovated South Mercer Playfields. November 4, 2022. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. Team supporters have battled the Bellevue School Districts decisions. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. In January of 1991, after the UIL completed their investigation and the legal battle ended, Dallas Carter was stripped of their title and Converse Judson was named the 1988 5A champions. 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. 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. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. 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.