bellevue high school football scandal

Plenty of things we need to clean up for next week, though. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. We love to see the kids have fun and play ball. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. 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. And that lofty tuition bill? Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? 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. Staff reporter Mike Baker contributed to this report. To do whats best for your kid, he said. But the program's remarkable success has. In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. 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 . "That report will be forwarded to the WIAA, which will adjudicate the punishments and will allow Bellevue High School a chance to appeal.". Brick by brick!. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. 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. 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. I think the system is prone to corruption. This decision is unfair to the players who are the heart and soul of this program. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: 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. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! 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. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. lots and lots of money going around. Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. 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. 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. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. Final score: Wolverines 53, Panthers 12. The booster club should be disbanded. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. 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. None of our business, he said. 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 . Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. 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. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". Bellevue H.S. Other families allegedly acquired apartments within the schools boundaries, with the rent being paid by boosters. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. 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. 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. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. Members of the booster club have criticized the investigation, which was conducted bytwo former federal prosecutors hired by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). 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. That leads to what the money was used for. McKinney North Principal Linda Thret was the mom of one of the Fab Five and eventually resigned due to mounting pressure over her lack of discipline with the group. Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! 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. Good kids and families participated in Bellevuefootball, but there were also some people who stepped over the line. The team won 11 state championships in 15 years, including a 67-game winning streak. Bellevue High School Football Share this Team > Regular Season . KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. This was wealth gone greedy., Bellevue football report put asterisk on winning record. And in years where cheating was determined to have occurred, titles should be forfeited. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. 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. 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. 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. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? The NFL is the big example. Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or, cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred, 68-page independent report that found wide-ranging rules violations within the program, Bellevue football banned from postseason for 4 years, WIAA lifts Bellevue postseason ban, strips two state titles, Cedar Park Christian hires ex-Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff, Two-year ban for Goncharoff ruled violation of union rights, After upheaval, sanctions, Bellevue ready to get back to playing football again, Report: Bellevue coaches violated rules for years, district obstructed probe, was placed on a three-year probation last year, district had proposed a suspension of the teams booster club along with meetings. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe He is now on administrative leave while this is adjudicated.". Bellevue High School Football; Bellevue Football. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. Sanctions need to be put in place against the school as well as the BHS booster club to ensure the high-school programs for our conference and state are fair, as all sports should be. Armstead is also in the New York Giants Ring of Honor. The Wolverines got off to their usual fast start, with a whopping three rushing touchdowns from Ishaan Daniels, another from Carson Rubin, and a passing TD from Lucas Razore to Hogan Hansen. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. Sat Nov 26 L . It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. 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. 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 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. Sports news, analysis, opinions, and rumors. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. HOME 5-1 AWAY 4-1 NEUTRAL 0-1. "I would say the rules are loose. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. 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 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. 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. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. 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. A third player whose family couldnt afford the steep tuition said he attended Academic Institute for two years without knowing who picked up the tab. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. 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. 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. Amazing game and ending for Bellevue Wolverines, Bellevue High is an extremely successful football program. 2021 State Champs! I have been watching professional and college sports for more than 40 years, and have been covering college football for Last Word on Sports for two years. 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. We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! The Academic Institute was briefly involved in a athletic district investigation after the family complaint, but no one from the school spoke to investigators. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. In order to remedy the violations, the district had proposed a suspension of the teams booster club along with meetings, training programs and policy reviews to ensure rules are followed in the future. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. 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. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. Because of the legal challenge, Carter was allowed to go forward in the playoffs and they went on to a state title after defeating Converse Judson in the title game 31-14. 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 KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. 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. "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. 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. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. 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. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Top-ranked Bellevue defeated Marysville Pilchuck, 27-3, in the 3A state football semifinals on Nov. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Seattle. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. Often it would be well past dark by the time he returned home. The No. 1 Bellevue past No. It feels quaint to sit back and watch an old rerun of Friday Night Lights and see some rally girl doing Tim Riggins homework, or a star player finding a mysterious envelope with cash in it. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Tacoma WA 98418. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. She has worked in news radio for more than 30 years. Brazen Family-Central Bar + Restaurant,520 Bar and Grill, The Brazens - Windermere. 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? The Academic Institute existed in a strip mall not far from Bellevue High. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Jones began coaching at . The team has won 11 state championships in the last 15 seasons. 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. 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. 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. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 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. 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. These efforts were and are fully within the rules., The boosters vowed to continue to fight. This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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). 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. 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. The players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. 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 second half would be spent in running clock, ending in a final of 54-13. 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. Team supporters have battled the Bellevue School Districts decisions. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. Discretely paid for by the booster club. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. 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. They don't have subpoena power because this is a trade association. 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 schools want it that way. 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. 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. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. 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. The Seattle [] 9 Rainier Beach into WIAA 3A state semifinals, William Wangs career night lifts No. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. 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.