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. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. 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. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. 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. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. 5 Marysville-Pilchuck on Saturday in the early game of the Class 3A semifinal doubleheader at Memorial Stadium. Or that they never had homework from that school? David R. Evans BELLEVUE, Wash. -- While the Bellevue High football scandal gets sorted out, a forgotten casualty are the players who will experience the looming sanctions and coaching shake-up firsthand.Players . Flashback: Carter High Stripped of 1988 State Title After Win 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. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. The second quarter was the Carson Rubin Show, as he added 10- and 35-yard TD runs, and even a two-point conversion, helping the Wolverines take a 26-6 lead to the locker room. "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. 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. What sanction to impose if they will not resign in disgrace? 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. 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. 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? Come one, come all! football coach makes appeal after ban. Comments (-1) BPS Summer STEM Camps. Finally, in the fourth quarter, Kaden Matsudaira was featured in a long drive, culminating in a 3-yard TD run to put an exclamation point on the game. I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. 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. The newspaper further documented its original article: The parents of a former Bellevue High School football player have disputed their sons account of his time on the team, calling a Sunday Seattle Times articleon the subject false and misleading.. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory Coach Butch Goncharoff connected to $175,000 in equipment payments in Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! The players reportedly got the steroids from a dealer named Big Mike who was a fitness trainer. In the end, nine football players at the school admitted to using over the counter steroid-like substances and prescription steroids. And the idea that you need to move from wherever you live Carnation, Concrete, etc. 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. The Real Story of The 1988 Carter High Football Team Yes, they broke the rules to get them on the team. We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. 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 . An Auburn woman has won the $754.6 million Powerball jackpot. 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. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. 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. Set the playing field equal, limit the activity of booster clubs to support supplies and travel costs. The players were ejected from the game, suspended and an investigation launched. 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. Cheerleaders capture the crowds attention during the game, but one group of Texas high school cheerleaders captured the attention of the entire nation due to their outlandish behavior. Editors note: After the original Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 the newspaper followed up with another article in which the parents of Darien Freeman disputed portions of the first article that were attributed to their son. 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.' Editors note: The following is an excerpt from the Seattle Times article of Aug. 23 detailing alleged improper practices within the Bellevue High football program: Bellevue High School has established itself as one of the premier prep football programs in the nation with 11 state titles in the past 15 years. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue boosters paid the tuition of athletes at The Academic Institute. ", "Pretty serious stuff," Thiel said. You can read the Times' entire investigation here. The booster club should be disbanded. 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. Of those 17 boys, seven were Bellevue football players. Onside kick with less than 2 minutes to go to setup Scoma winning field goal (Photo credit - Pete Caster / The News Tribune), Luke Scoma converts a must-have onside kick, then boots the game-winning field goal in the reigning Class 3A champions' 22-20 state quarterfinal victory over Gabarri Johnson-led Lincoln of Tacoma, A cadre of Lincoln defenders take down Bellevue running back Blake Tests during the first quarter of a Class 3A state quarterfinal game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma, Wash. PETE CASTER Pete Caster / The News Tribune Read more. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. 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. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. It's easy to be accused of fearmongering regarding crime, but Seattle residents might have good reason to be concerned for their safety. 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. We asked readers for their thoughts on what repercussions the Bellevue football program should face, as well as what the scandal says about high-school sports. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. On the first play from scrimmage, freshman Max Jones took a handoff 65 yards to the house, and the JV squad never looked back. Later, when the family lived in SeaTac, he said, his mother would drop him off at a bus stop in Renton to commute. Staff reporter Mike Baker contributed to this report. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. Players speak out about Bellevue High coaching shake-up On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. After the Seattle Times story was published on Sunday, a distraught Darien Freeman called a Times reporter, saying hed just spoken with Goncharoff. In all, six players were connected with 21 robberies that occurred in Carter neighborhoods. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. 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. November 4, 2022. Bellevue High School Football Scandal; Where Are the Adults? Discretely paid for by the booster club. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal. 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. Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. 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 . 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. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. "I would say the rules are loose. 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. KingCo will have stricter guidelines and oversight for incoming transfer student-athletes for two years. A High School Football Program Just Got the SMU-Style Death - Forbes On the eve of a Halloween weekend, the Bellevue faithful showed up in droves (and costumes) to celebrate another fantastic class of Bellevue High seniors. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. WA State 3A Champs '83, '01, '02, '03, '04, '06, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12,. Photos: William Wang powers No. 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.". 710 ESPN Seattles Danny ONeil thinks the parents are misguided. 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. He's not going quietly. A video of Bellevue East High School's Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. But Notre Dame-bound RB Jayden Limar led a second half comeback, eventually closing the game out 37-28. The Seattle [] 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. 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. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations This booster club raised more than $427,000 in 2013 according to the Seattle Times investigation. 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.' The final report did not mention the Academic Institute. This will essentially kill the football program. Brick by brick!. Bellevue junior Cal Zimmerman (#8) scores a touchdown as Snohomish seniors Miles Lamb (#8) and Easton Leonard (#24) attempt to tackle. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. Bellevue will host Mead High School in the 3A Round of 16, this Saturday at Noon. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. There's just too much 'go along, get along' over the years. Five Texas High School Football Scandals Bellevue can appeal the sanctions to KingCo principals within five school days, then can appeal to the executive board of the SeaKing District and ultimately to the executive board of the WIAA. Make it hurt. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. 5 seeded Wolverines (8-2) walloped No. Darien Freeman had said he lived in that city during his 2009-10 freshman season. 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. They happen to go to a private school that doesnt offer a (football) program.. But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. 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. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. But the program's remarkable success has. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. It's the entire structure that needs reform and a lot of attention. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. 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. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Bellevue (Wash.) expected to fire coach at center of alleged football We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. The conferences action sets a precedent that should raise a red flag to everyone, the statement said. Bellevue Wolverines Varsity - Bellevue High School Football 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. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. 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. 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. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. Carter High . KNKX Public Radio | 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. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. In addition to prohibiting the Bellevue football program from receiving donations, the KingCo committee said: Bellevue is not allowed to play any nonleague football games and will be limited to Class 3A league games for two seasons. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. 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. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! The Bellevue High football team is reportedly aided by a diploma mill private school. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. It is high time to clean up this mess. 5. 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. That loss was an eye-opener, as Bellevue dominated in every aspect of the game against our team. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. Led by senior running back William Wang as the wrecking ball of destruction in Bellevues vaunted Wing-T rushing attack, the Wolverines dogged Rainier Beach all night on the ground in a 56-22 triumph on Friday night in Class 3A state quarterfinals at Bellevue High School, Highlights of Bellevue's 56-22 win over Rainier Beach in the quarterfinals of the 3A State Playoffs. Go re-read this story, and you will have your answers. That probe confirmed some of the problems that The Times found and also detailed other issues, including families that had used false addresses to gain eligibility, a school district that had obstructed the investigation and evidence that Goncharoff had been paid beyond the bounds of WIAA rules. In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. If our society didnt place such a level of importance on winning at all costs, this type of thing wouldnt happen. 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. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. 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. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. BHS cheated its own eligible students of playing. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. A 68-page report found that players' families provided false address to gain eligibility and that head coach Butch Goncharoff encouraged players to attend classes at a private alternative school. An investigation into the allegations by the Dallas Morning News led to the school investigating the claims as well. Fire them all immediately.. 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. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. Due to state-wide ref shortages, the Wolverines trip to the jungle at Mercer Island High School was moved from Friday night to Thursday. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. Junior Carson Rubin was the first to take the spotlight two long runs and two TDs got BHS on the board in Q1. 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. The deluge culminated in a 34-0 halftime lead for BHS. 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. Now we have to keep the focus going next week for playoffs.. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. Did The Truth Even Matter: The Real Bellevue Football Story (Did The 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. Really? 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. They recently had a 67-game win streak snapped in the state championship game last December. 10 Texas Athletes Are Sentenced to Jail Terms for Robberies Next week, both teams face a tough and up-and-coming Lake Washington team Varsity on Friday at LW (7pm), JV on Monday at home (7pm). Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. School District officials are planning to fire the head coach, Bellevue coaches clearly violated eligibility rules for years, Clemson gets commitment from 4-star North Cobb RB David Eziomume, Vermont HS girls basketball team forfeits rather than face transgender opponent, USA TODAY Sports Super 25 high school basketball rankings, week of Feb. 27, 2023, Sierra Canyon 4-star small forward AJ Swinton commits to Virgnia Tech, Imhotep Institute CB Kenny Woseley names top 4 schools, commitment date, Centennial boys basketball 3-peats as champions with buzzer-beater dunk, 'The Last of Us' actor, deaf youth hockey player meets Alexander Ovechkin in heartwarming video, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". 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. Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. School district leaders initially sought to have the booster club answer questions about its relationship with Academic Institute. Volunteer to help people understand their Medicare options! Usain Bolt defeats Justin Gatlin, defends 100-meter title. Its unfortunate for the kids who played therebut also hard on those who played against Bellevue, too. Former Bellevue Football assistant head coach publishes his side of the Who do these kids think they are? What makes them think they are so deserving? You know what? But what happens when bending the rules or covering for players becomes a real life story; the infractions are so extensive and the storylines so indelicate that no TV producer would even believe it. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid . Then, on Monday, the JV took the field north of the lake, against the Bothell Cougars. 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. That would be easy. If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. But, we would be lying if we said that there wasnt at least a benefit to these kids.. The players reportedly said the refereewas using racial slurs and said they were instructed to hit the ref by their coach, Mack Breed. 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. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. 2021 State Champs! 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. 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. The No. Often it would be well past dark by the time he returned home. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. The scandal rocked the affluent community and brought awareness to steroid use by teens. Ask yourself these questions while you scan the details: Where in the name of all that is right were the parents? "The schools want it that way. It was so one-sided and evident that something was different about this team in comparison to the other nine teams Liberty played against., For every year they won the state championship, that should be the number of years they are not qualified to compete in theplayoffs.