Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. Jones began coaching at . 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. The long-running nature of the corruption uncovered by this investigation could only have occurred with the explicit or tacit approval of Bellevue High Schooland Bellevue School District administrators, as the reportvividly details. Brick by brick!. 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. 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. It's finally come to a head. Tony has been with Last Word on Sports for six years covering college football around the country. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. Final score: 20-14, bringing the JV to 1-1. Comments (-1) BPS Summer STEM Camps. "They also discovered that there was a small school within the school called the Academic Institute, which was privately funded by a lot of the boosters to give educations to students who were struggling. Im so happy and proud of all of them. An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. There are no legitimate answers to those questions. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, Out of Left Field, which became a regional bestseller. 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. They were outlandishly gravy training on their 17 or 18 year old kids football ability. Kirsten Kendrick has been hosting Morning Edition on KNKX/KPLU since 2006. In Q2, senior Ishaan Daniels added his own long TD run, and quarterback Lucas Razore added not one, but two, TD passes to fellow junior Blake Teets (one for 19 yards, one for 43). Or that they never had homework from that school? The team should have to forfeit the championships it won. How did parents move into a new apartment and never pay a dime of rent and never ask how that came to be? An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest and Crosscut.com. He's not going quietly. 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. And because it's now going to be subject to many lawsuits, there's going to be huge pressure and there should be huge pressure to reform the entire structure of state high school sports. 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 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. A video of Bellevue East High School's 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. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). Blame needs to fall primarily on Bellevue High School. November 4, 2022. 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. Theyre going to find you. NEWSLINE 425-453-4270. 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. Adults knew this was going on for years. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State, 3. Teen football player tackles suspected shoplifter, Ross: The latest attempt to undo a national embarrassment, Ross: Changing the climate of mental health is a bill away, Ross: A national divorce isnt the solution, but some people should move, Ross: If the American system rewards hard work, cancel student loan debt, Ross: Fentanyl-smoking passengers on light rail present huge danger, Ross: Two less crooks to worry about in downtown Seattle. 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. The Times uncovered 17 instances of Bellevue players who attend the Academic Institute, a small private school which does not offer football, in the last seven years. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. I think the system is prone to corruption. 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. It is high time to clean up this mess. 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. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. 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. The No. 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. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. 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. 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. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. At the crux of the scandal is a well to-do family that made their money in the trash/waste management industry. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years 4. 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. Head coach Butch Goncharoff has been fired. 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. It's false. 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. 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. Therevelation is not a product of bias or envy. 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.' Kirsten is also a sports lover. 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.". 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. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. Carter High in Dallas took the state championship in 1988, but this new film about the team is not all about victory. You depend on KNKX for trusted, in-depth local news, music by knowledgeable hosts and enlightening NPR programs. An anonymous tip led the UIL to investigate claims Carters star player, Gary Edwards had failed Algebra and had violated the states No Pass, No Play policy. 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 is not allowed to play out-of-state opponents for four seasons. But, we would be lying if we said that there wasnt at least a benefit to these kids.. This will essentially kill the football program. 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. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. The silver lining from one of the biggest scandals in Texas high school football history is the number of players who went on to continue their football careers in college. The following Monday, the Bellevue JV had their first home game of the season, hosting Juanita. Its no surprise that we tend to have a lot of conversations about entitled young athletes. We only care where they live., They are not our students, he said. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. 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. "It's not just Bellevue. Coach Kneip said after the game, great to see our men get out and have fun tonight, energy on the sidelines was awesome. Later, a traffic citation was issued to a Yusef Freeman with an address in SeaTac. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. 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? It should be a Homecoming to remember! 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. Supporters of the Bellevue football program have shared the letter on social media. 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. He played for the New York Giants and Washington Redskins and was a five time Pro Bowl selection. 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). In an article about how Bellevues success was aided by a small private school, Freeman, 20, told the Times that he lived in four different cities during his years with the Bellevue football team Sammamish, Bellevue, Auburn and SeaTac. To deny them the ability to compete with their peers is wrong and goes against every principle of youth sports.. 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. With the pregame celebrations and hugs finished, the Wolverines wasted no time getting down to business. Have no fear, Bellevue Faithful, the East Channel Bridge rivalry is very much alive. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue High School football coach Butch Goncharoff told the school board Tuesday that an investigation of the football . Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. 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. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. Any booster associated with this mess be banned from any financial or booster club membership for two years. This fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. The movie portrayed the girls as ruthless in their quest to run the school. 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. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. "The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), which is the administrative body that governs prep sports hired two investigators who produced a 68-page report that confirmed much of what the Times discovered as well as other things. 5. In 2012, Freeman was among 17 boys pictured in the sophomore, junior and senior pages of an Academic Institute yearbook reviewed by the Times. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. 4. Courtesy of Stephanie Ault Justus. We love the playoffs, Coach Kneip said postgame, this is the best time of the year, and were ready to get after it!. Department of Commerce officials say communities will need diverse housing options in the future as well. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. Lets be reasonable., The wrong-headed parts of the Bellevue High Schoolfootball program continued for far too long.