Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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 . How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? 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. One family complained their son was told his scholarship at the Institute would be revoked if he stopped playing football at Bellevue. The community was stunned. Bellevue has 12 buildings taller than 25 stories, 10 of them built since 2005. 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. Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. Bellevue High School Football Share this Team > Regular Season . 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 western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. 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. 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 players spent 75 days in the districts alternative school after the incident. 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. 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. We hear stories about competing schools. Here is a selection of the. It is high time to clean up 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.' How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? 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. Im so happy and proud of all of them. Bellevue can appeal for that sanction to be reduced one year early. It's the entire structure that needs reform and a lot of attention. Mostly because they were too busy taking advantage of the whole in the system for their own benefit. Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? 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. "It's not just Bellevue. "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. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. Thanks to state-wide referee shortages, the Wolverines had to reschedule their weekly Friday night appointment to Saturday. 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. 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. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. Final score 42-0. 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. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. 56-0 win over Juanita! Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. 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 . This fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. 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. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. The second half saw more of the same stingy Wolverine defense, and scores being added by another long Daniels run, and a 30-yard TD connection from Razore to junior TE, Hogan Hansen. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. 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 Wolverines will look to build on their learning from week 1 and 2 as they start KingCo 3A conference play against Liberty High School this Friday. Final score: 48-14, Bellevue. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Darien Freeman has not returned multiple messages left for him last week. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. Following the string of robberies, six players were sentenced to prison with terms ranging from two to 25 years. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. 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. Bellevue is a public school district. I think the system is prone to corruption. And the district has cut ties with longtime assistant coach Pat Jones. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. Hopefully something like that will come out of this mess.". 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. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. 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. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. It's false. Students at a private school without a football team can play for a public-school team in their home district. 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. NEWSLINE 425-453-4270. A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. 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. 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. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! 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. 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. 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. But the program's remarkable success has. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. 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. He's not going quietly. Records reviewed by the Seattle Times, however, show that Freemans father has had a home address in Auburn. 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. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. 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. If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. 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. "The schools want it that way. Touchdowns by Daniels, Hansen, Rubin, Moon, Smith, and Matsudaira. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. 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). 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. 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. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. Lots of work to be done to get where we want to be, though. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. As crime increases, our safety measures must too, GSBA is closing the disparity gap with Ready for Business Fund. 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 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. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. The second half would be spent in running clock, ending in a final of 54-13. The Seattle [] 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. Therevelation is not a product of bias or envy. 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. A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. State District . For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. 5. What sanction to impose if they will not resign in disgrace? Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. 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. 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. 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. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. 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? These findings only corroborate what is probably the worst kept secret in the history of high school sports. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. Great highlight video Next stop for the Wolverines (13-0) is the state championship game the Gridiron Classic versus Kennewick at noon on Dec. 4 at Sparks Stadium in Puyallup. The Academic Institute existed in a strip mall not far from Bellevue High. The parents confirmed in their letter that they received financial support, but said they properly requested aid from the school. KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is American Greed at it worst! 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. 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. It's not a state agency. 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. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. Hogwash! 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. I found John Harrisons (former Mercer Island High School principal and now Executive Director of Bellevue Public Schools) comments to be cavalier; aiding and abetting a serious flaw in the system and, just plain very disappointing given his stellar career as a Mercer Island principal. 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. I correct you Sir they are in your charge as Student Athletes at Bellevue High School taking a physical education class, thereby bound by all the rules and regulations attendant to participating in any WIAA competitive sport which includes providing financial aid. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. 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. 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. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. During that conversation on Sunday, Freeman reaffirmed the other aspects of his account. And a large percentage of those kids were athletes," Thiel said. 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. Ban Goncharoff from coaching football in Washington for life. 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. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. Fire them all immediately.. Our guys played pretty well, its just about getting better., Then, on Monday, the LW JV made the opposite trip, visiting BHS. Sat Nov 26 L . Coach Kneip said after the victory, Amazing atmosphere tonight!! It's finally come to a head. That leads to what the money was used for. Final score, 59-0, BHS. 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. Probation: Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. According to the findings, 17 players were funneled to a for-profit private school for extra classes and academic help. You do what you can to give your kid a leg up because you want him or her on a path that maybe you werent on.. All rights reserved. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. Latest Updates. lots and lots of money going around. 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. 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. The final report did not mention the Academic Institute. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. That would be a likely violation of rules that generally require student-athletes to live within a schools attendance boundary. 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. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. Location: Bellevue . Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. Bellevue football decimated the available pool of players for both Sammamish and Interlake for years to the point of Sammamish forfeiting games at the varsity level in 2015. 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. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. 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. 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. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! Photos: William Wang powers No. 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. The scandal rocked the affluent community and brought awareness to steroid use by teens. Due to state-wide ref shortages, the Wolverines trip to the jungle at Mercer Island High School was moved from Friday night to Thursday. And we wonder where entitled athletes come from? 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. The Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a "diploma mill" private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times . Brick by brick!. Bellevue football players worked hard thats how they won.
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