The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. 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. Bellevues head coach and athletic director be fired immediately, 2. These efforts were and are fully within the rules., The boosters vowed to continue to fight. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal. But, we would be lying if we said that there wasnt at least a benefit to these kids.. Allow only the students living within the boundaries to participate. 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. Now we need to do it again! Per a statement, athletic director Jim Hicks said. It should be a Homecoming to remember! They said Goncharoff never gave the family money to pay for rent. 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. Jones began coaching at . 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. This will essentially kill the football program. Bellevue is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. "They also discovered compensation to the head coach, Butch Goncharoff, of $60,000 a year that was well in excess of what the standards are for high school coaches.". 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. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. 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. The train wreck at Bellevue may be symbolic of much that is wrong with high school and college athletics and the creation of the entitled teenager and the grotesque flow of money into amateur sports. 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. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. 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. Bellevue wraps up undefeated season with 3A state title. Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff was suspended two games for "improper out-of-season activities" and for providing money to a player. The ref denied any use of racial slurs during the game. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. 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. football coach makes appeal after ban. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. Bellevue school officials have previously told Bellevue head coach Butch Goncharoff that the district will seek to terminate him for violations of district policies. 5. That was released a few months ago. 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. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. This has been, I dont want to say an open secret, but Im not surprised by the investigation, ONeil told Seattles Morning News. The No. 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. Here's the AP story SEATTLE (AP) - An investigation into illegal recruiting has resulted in the suspension of Bellevue High School's head football coach, Butch Goncharoff, and the team being placed on probation. 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. Sat Nov 26 L . SEATTLE An independent investigation into the Bellevue High football team uncovered "significant and long-standing violations" of state sports rules and extensive evidence that the team's. 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. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! However, the school often had no teachers in the classrooms; little, if any homework was ever given, and the players received full class credit. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. A native of Southern California, now living in North Carolina, he has been working in broadcast, print and digital media for nearly 30 years. Unphased by the change, the boys loaded up the busses on Saturday evening, and headed north to Juanita High School in Kirkland. November 4, 2022. 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. How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. The only actual answer is likely that they didnt know and they didnt care to know. 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. Saint Mary's guard Logan Johnson knows both sides of the Zags-Gaels rivalry, 35-year-old loved his dog, the outdoors and his mother who is accused of killing him, Accused killer returns to Spokane to face murder charge in 40-year-old South Hill cold case. 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.". 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. The Bellevue High football team is reportedly aided by a diploma mill private school. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. It's finally come to a head. David R. Evans Now, we cannot be completely naive. I think that theres a lot of different layers to understanding exactly what is going on., Related: Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter. Good kids and families participated in Bellevuefootball, but there were also some people who stepped over the line. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory This is a public high school and a strong message needs to be sent that this type of practice cannot be tolerated. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. The second half once again belonged to the youngsters and up-and-comers, who finished strong to the tune of a 56-14 victory. We hear stories about competing schools. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. 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. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). 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. 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. In its report to KingCo, the Bellevue School District acknowledged several violations of rules while disputing other aspects of the independent investigation. 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. 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. For a paltry $1,750 tuition per month, these student athletes supposedly got academic help. 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. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). 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. Bellevue Independent Schools announced it has canceled the rest of its high school's football season due to multiple injuries on the team. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory A video of Bellevue East High School's Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State, 3. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. 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. 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 . "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. 2023 Bonneville International. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. 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.. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. 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 Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a "diploma mill" private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times . Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. 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. Among those, Freeman said Goncharoff directed him to attend the Academic Institute instead of studying at Bellevue. 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? Bellevue High School, Wolverine Way, Bellevue, WA, USA Sat Nov 19 W 22-20 @ Lincoln High School "Abes" Lincoln Bowl, Tacoma, WA, USA - 701 S. 37th Street. Wangs 64-yard burst up the middle with four minutes left gave the top-seeded Wolverines (14-0) the winning margin. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. 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 . Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. Mostly because they were too busy taking advantage of the whole in the system for their own benefit. By: Logan Newman, https://usatodayhss.com/2016/bellevue-wash-expected-to-fire-coach-butch-goncharoff-cheating-scandal, Bellevue (Wash.) expected to fire coach at center of alleged football cheating scandal. 5. In both games, seniors Ishaan Daniels and George Kruger were standouts. This isnt just about high school sports. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. 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. 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. 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. 2023 ABG-SI LLC. 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. The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. 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. Im already excited for next week. JV plays at Lake Washington on Monday 9/26. Make it hurt. A video of two football players from John Jay High School in San Antonio went viral in September of 2015 after they blindsided a referee near the end of a game versus Marble Falls. Every sport has its dark side and high school football in Texas is no exception. That's as many as Milwaukee, two more than Indianapolis and Tampa, and six more than Oklahoma City and San Antonio.. PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long. 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. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. The deluge culminated in a 34-0 halftime lead for BHS. 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. 9-0 on the season, BACK ON TRACK! 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. Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. However, the victory only lasted five months when the school became the first in the state to have their title taken from them. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. 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. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. This begins the discussion of the penalty phase of the violations, and there are several steps working through that process, said Mike Colbrese, WIAA executive director. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. "The report then went to a panel of KingCo Conference athletic directors. 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. 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. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. Goncharoff released a statement after KingCos sanctions were handed down. The western-themed student section brought the energy all night, and the Wolverines did not disappoint. The community was stunned. 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 . Under ominous clouds and heavy winds, the Wolverines took the field in their electric yellow uniforms, to face the visiting Snohomish Panthers in a Week 10 crossover game. Fire them all immediately..