It should be a Homecoming to remember! That would be easy. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. Mercer Island Football Booster Club President, 1988-89. Of the 24-23 loss, Coach Kneip said, Theyre a really, really well-coached, high quality program. Bellevue H.S. 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. Im typical Bellevue fashion, the JV Wolverines matched Bothells two big plays with long, methodical drives and stifling defense. Thiel said Goncharoff has been quite vocal about his innocence. Bellevue Wolverines Varsity - Bellevue High School Football The NFL is the big example. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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. Every sport has its dark side and high school football in Texas is no exception. 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. An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. 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. 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. Bellevue High football: Team reportedly aided by diploma mill - Sports 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. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists, a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom. 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. 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. They were outlandishly gravy training on their 17 or 18 year old kids football ability. 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. Michael Kneip coaches his alma mater and is bent on restoring its football greatness. All rights reserved. KNKX Public Radio | 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. Yes, the Catholic schools do recruit, but they are not funded through public money. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. Sophomore Ryken Moon took the opening kickoff back for a TD, junior Colin Miller had an interception, junior Luke Soma added a field goal, and junior Cal Zimmerman had his own pick-6. Did The Truth Even Matter: The Real Bellevue Football Story (Did The Some of Bellevue football's top players came from South Sound schools If you would like to share your thoughts or experiences in relation to this story, please email the reporter or. 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. The schools don't want to arm the WIAA with investigatory powers. 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. There are many changes that should be made but they will never happen because our society places much more value on their teams winning than they do on oureducation system., This incident underscores what happens when booster clubs are permitted for specific sports and when those clubs put their own egos and insecurities above the appropriate life lessons to be gained and promoted from participation in school activities. That was released a few months ago. An interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. KIRO Radios Jason Rantz thinks they are just doing their job. "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. Coach Kneip on the game, We had a great, physical week of practice, and it really paid off. 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. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps is the traditional American response to anyone who complains about his lot in life. 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. Jessie Armstead, played for Miami and was the 207th pick in the 8th round of the 1993 NFL draft. "He's still a vital part of the picture. 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. 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. The Bellevue High School football team is one victory away from the ultimate return to glory. 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. Great highlight video 1. There are no legitimate answers to those questions. 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. 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. Players speak out about Bellevue High coaching shake-up We depend on members for more than half of our financial support. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. 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. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. BELLEVUE, Wash. -- Bellevue School District officials and booster club members are fighting back against a blistering report that alleged recruitment violations within the Bellevue High. Carter High . Thiel said the complaints have been leveled at the Bellevue High School football program for years, but the scandal erupted after an investigation by the Seattle Times last year. There are absolutely no facts to support KingCos conclusion they have foolishly relied on the false inferences of the WIAAs original report, Goncharoffs statement said. Coach Salonen said, We feel incredibly lucky to have the numbers to support a JV program this year, we love seeing the additional reps these players are getting, and the improvement that comes with those reps.. %link% A player for Stamford, Wendell Robinson, lived in the towns fire station and continued to play for the school after his parents moved away from Stamford. I found this story on USA TODAY High School Sports and wanted to share it with you: The team won 11 state championships in 15 years, including a 67-game winning streak. I think its terrible when parents get involved and start trying to tilt the playing field for high school sports, he said. 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. Freemans parents, Yusef and Allona, wrote in a letter this week to the school district that their son lived in the Bellevue attendance area. 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. 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. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. Final score, 59-0, BHS. Mind you, this is not the kind of booster club that has bake sales to pay for road trips. 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. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook) 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. Students at AI a school derided as a diploma mill by two former teachers are still allowed to play on the Bellevue football team. The final report did not mention the Academic Institute. 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. And that lofty tuition bill? ', "The Bellevue School District said only one charge was valid and that was the compensation to Goncharoff, and so they recommended his firing. 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. OVERALL 9-3 0.75 Win % DISTRICT 6-0 1st3A KingCo. Jones began coaching at . If that wasnt enough, the main boosters involved are discussing suing the conference over the penalties and coach Goncharoff says he has been set up. 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. The investigators report and your editorial finally nailed it.. 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. His older brother became vice president of the teams booster club. Recent newspaper headlines should bring the immediate firing of Butch Goncharoff, Bellevue High School football coach. Embattled Bellevue High School football coaches took another hit Friday as an executive board made up of high school principals increased penalties for the head . This isnt a player finding $100 cash in his locker. 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.". November 4, 2022. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. 1 Bellevue back into 3A state semifinals: 4 observations I am also the father of a high school varsity athlete. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. Unfazed by the less than hospitable conditions, the Wolverine ground game got to work against a stout Panther defense. 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. The booster club should be disbanded. Bellevue's head coach and athletic director be fired immediately 2. KingCo left the question of whether Bellevue should forfeit state titles up to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). Goncharoff built Bellevue into a football dynasty. Bellevue footballs promotion of a culture of cheating is a broadly understood fact. Their punishment is that they will never be remembered well. 4. The only actual answer is likely that they didnt know and they didnt care to know. David R. Evans PF 497 PA 185 STREAK 1L. Butch Goncharoff is banned from coaching in Washington State 3. The state high school governing body, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), is looking into whether state titles need to be stripped and further sanctions imposed. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! An independent investigation found a series of potential violations on the Bellevue High School football program. Really? Brady rolled through the playoffs that year up until the state game beating Belton (66-8), Taylor (30-8), Jasper (24-0) and Palacios (22-0). Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years 4. 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. This type of illegal and unethical activity runs through sports programs at all levels. The Real Story of The 1988 Carter High Football Team Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account. Video Highlights of State Championship New coaching staff of young alumni lead Bellevue back to state football championship glory 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. 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. All told, a 42-0 first half lead. 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. With the pregame pageantry and TV interviews done, the Wolverines got to work making the Big Game a big blowout. The Wolverines will look to keep extend their conference win streak next week, at home, against the Knights of Newport. The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. GSBA, Comcast, and other partners are working to address disparities in access to financial resources with the Ready for Business fund. The Bellevue High School administrators who allowed this to happen should also face the loss of jobs or demotions. Kirsten is also a sports lover. 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. "It's not just Bellevue. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. 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. 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. 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. 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. "This is the most successful athletic program in state history and it's being torn down. During one of the meetings with the Times, Freeman said he no longer had a relationship with his father.