Stamford had little trouble in the playoffs with wins over Quanah (43-13), Cisco (32-22), Denver City (14-0) and Olney (15-7). Even private schools require the students attend classes at that institution and make the grades to play, not go to a strip-mall diploma mill., The Seattle Times closes comments on particularly sensitive stories. Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Get the days top sports headlines and breaking news delivered to your inbox by subscribing here. That leads to what the money was used for. How did parents never ask how their kid had so much walking around money? There are a lot of reasons why he thinks the rules were wrongly interpreted by the investigators. Edwards was sentenced to 16 years and never played another down of football. 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. Top-ranked 3A Wolverines get all they want for three-plus quarters, but Wing-T (342 rushing yards) generates big fourth-quarter scoring plays to pull away. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. All rights reserved. Along the way, competitors have complained that Bellevue was bending the rules. Bellevue High School football is banned from postseason play for two years 4. None of our business, he said. While parents arent specifically mentioned in these allegations, ONeil says they would most certainly be involved in these violations and are also culpable. To tear down this whole organization is a crime. A KingCo committee came down hard on Bellevue football Tuesday, banning the program from postseason play and prohibiting outside donations for four years. Great highlight video In 1959, Stamford defeated Brady 19-14 in the state championship. Bellevue High School has the most successful football program in state history winning 11 titles in the last 15 years. One son married a runner-up from The Bachelor TV show and became an assistant football coach at Bellevue. 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. Teaching young impressionable minds to cheat is criminal! The families of two other players have described how supporters of the football program had a role in coordinating scholarships for the players. 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. Yesterday Kendall Alston, age 31, was sentenced in federal court to five years for selling fentanyl pills in downtown Seattle. 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. It's not a state agency. 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? I have known athletes who have told of offers made by colleges. When I saw the David Horsey cartoon, light rail ambassadors inviting a fentanyl-smoking passenger to leave, I lost it, says a listener. And I think the only thing that can be a positive is major reformation. 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. After finding steroids in her sons athletic bag in September of 2004, a Colleyville Heritage mom approached school administrators after verifying the contents through a local drug store. Washington needs more than 1 million homes in the next 20 years, Islanders speak out against Lava Ridge Wind Project, WA Lottery reveals Auburn woman as winner of $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Victim energy is a siren song to which we must stop our ears | Whales Tales, Teams roll into action on renovated South Mercer Playfields. 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 interception by Caymus Rooney sealed the first half, 34-7 in favor of Bellevue. After the game, Coach Kneip said, Our job is to put our kids in the best position to win a state championship, and that means challenging ourselves against the best opponents we can possibly find for our non-conference games.. Published: Oct. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM PDT. Now, we cannot be completely naive. The most successful and the private schools are usually those that get accused. %link% 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. 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. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's a symptom of a much bigger problem.Media Probe. This is another example of the incredibly flawed process that has been guiding this investigation for months. 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. 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. Bellevue Superintendent Tim Mills says the district will appeal. 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. 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. In its report to KingCo, the Bellevue School District acknowledged several violations of rules while disputing other aspects of the independent investigation. After two rigorous non-conference games, Bellevue kicked off KingCo 3A conference play this past Friday night against Liberty High School of Renton. Five days after bringing home the state title, a string of events began that would blemish the reputation of the Dallas Carter program. 4. Jones has filed an unfair-labor-practices complaint with the Public Employment Relations Commission. 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. Freeman met with a reporter on two separate occasions at a SeaTac restaurant. In the second half, the Highlanders were haunted by a flurry of big plays on special teams and defense, by the Wolverines. 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. "Goncharoff, the booster club at Bellevue, and many people objected said 'No, this is all inaccurate. Yusef Freeman did not return a call Friday seeking comment on his letter. 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. Until 1968, Washington state allowed restrictive housing covenants. Team supporters have battled the Bellevue School Districts decisions. Lake Washington Windows and Doors is a local window dealer offering the exclusive Leak Armor installation. 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. Come one, come all! 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. The donors and contributors to this school should be identified. Goncharoff released a statement after KingCos sanctions were handed down. KingCo will vacate Bellevues conference titles if the WIAA determines that state championships should be forfeited. NEWSLINE 425-453-4270. "This issue with Bellevue has been around for many years. Rescind the championship titles, and ban the team from any post-season playoffs for five years. Coach Kneip said, after the game, What an awesome night to celebrate a group of guys who have given so much to this program! 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. 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. Once you address these issues, thenlets talk about a level playing field.. Bellevue will be on bye this week, ahead of a Week 9 home game against Hazen to finish off the regular season. (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook), (Image courtesy Bellevue Wolverines Facebook). An investigation released Tuesday revealed significant and long-standing violations by the Bellevue High School football program. Yes, they broke the rules to get them on the team. Washington state wants to be a leader in climate change, but I sense that the voters are not as concerned about that these days. 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. 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. Location: Bellevue . It is high time to clean up this mess. But, after a brief email exchange, they let it drop. 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. With their sights set on a state championship run, the Cowboys began preparing for the playoffs. 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 . 56-0 win over Juanita! 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. The final report did not mention the Academic Institute. 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. 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. 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. Weve seen a couple of surveys about Seattles happiness rating, one shows us near the top for happiness, and one has us closer to the bottom. Bellevue is a public school district. 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. "And if you can wiggle around with all of these variances in the rules, then they've got a real problem.". Rantz is much less critical of the Bellevue parents saying that, assuming the allegations are true, putting a student in the position to gain a college scholarship is a noble pursuit. 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. The Bellevue athletic department is on probation for four years. Go re-read this story, and you will have your answers. Good kids and families participated in Bellevuefootball, but there were also some people who stepped over the line. On Thursday, the Bellevue High School self-imposed sanctions on its football program and head coach for violations of WIAA rules. Found a preponderance of evidence that Bellevue boosters paid the tuition of athletes at The Academic Institute. The Academic Institute has a monthly tuition of $1,750. Goncharoff has argued that the decision to fire him was based on improperly applied policies. Come celebrate Anacortes 11th annual Bier on the Pier! For more high school stories, stats and videos, visit http://usatodayhss.com. Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. A committee of athletic directors from KingCo cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred. 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. The Times uncovered 17 instances. We will continue to defend our right, and the right of booster clubs around the state, to make these activities available to kids.. Therevelation is not a product of bias or envy. It should be a Homecoming to remember! "The Bellevue High School football cheating scandal is 'American Greed' at it worst.". 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. "He's still a vital part of the picture. Court records from an eviction case also show a Yusef Freeman was renting an apartment in Sammamish in 2009. Like many expectant mothers, Miranda Kekauoha had a plan. The KingCo Conference is a 16-team conference [and] their athletic directors decided some fairly draconian punishments. 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. It's the entire structure that needs reform and a lot of attention. Jayson Jenks: 206-464-8277 or, cited in its report a preponderance of evidence that violations had occurred, 68-page independent report that found wide-ranging rules violations within the program, Bellevue football banned from postseason for 4 years, WIAA lifts Bellevue postseason ban, strips two state titles, Cedar Park Christian hires ex-Bellevue coach Butch Goncharoff, Two-year ban for Goncharoff ruled violation of union rights, After upheaval, sanctions, Bellevue ready to get back to playing football again, Report: Bellevue coaches violated rules for years, district obstructed probe, was placed on a three-year probation last year, district had proposed a suspension of the teams booster club along with meetings. 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. 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. The coaching staff should be immediately dismissed. 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. We asked our fans to vote for the 3A Players of the Year for Texas HS Football Podcast: Championship Series. More of the money went to pay for school; the kind with no real academics. The final score is simply listed as Brady 1 Stamford 0 in the states record books. "It was discovered that there were athletes competing under false addresses in the Bellevue district. The Wolverines found paydirt early and often, ending the first quarter with a 280 lead, eventually taking a 35-0 lead to half. Rantz says he doesnt blame the parents whatsoever. But many of those accomplishments are in jeopardy, because of a scandal that has now reached the punishment stage. 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. 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 . And booster club President John Connors told supporters over the weekend that litigation may be necessary to protect the program. Updated: 7:13 PM PDT July 8, 2016. 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. Adults knew this was going on for years. 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. 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. 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. The community was stunned. Some prominent college football players are named in the report as having been cycled through The Academic Institute. This fake news reporting in the media hammered down on the program until the program was literally ripped apart at the seams. The Colleyville Heritage Steroid Scandal. That would be easy. 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. Bellevue High School offered a Physical Education program (football) not offered by this sham institution. It should not be about winning at all costs to include cheating by parents. 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. 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. Voted as the KING 5 Sports Big Game of the Week, the 4-2 Wolverines once again headed north on 405 for a KingCo 3A showdown, this time with the 4-1 Lake Washington Kangs. Medicare open enrollment is here and SHIBA can help! If youre a Pac-12 talent, you are going to jump off the page at recruiters, he said. 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. 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. 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? Touchdowns from Sharp, Jones, Reed, and freshman Trevin King kept the Bellevue offense on top, for a 49-22 win. It taught them how to succeed and prepared them for the future. 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 Bellevue High (Seattle) football team is reportedly aided through a "diploma mill" private school, according to an investigation by The Seattle Times .
Allgemein
