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Title still rings true for Northern players

Thursday, May 28, 2009
(Updated 7:08 pm)
By Robert Bell
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — Officially, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association stripped Northern Guilford of its 3-A state boys basketball title.

Unofficially, the oversized, Super Bowlesque ring Michael Neal flashed Wednesday night indicated otherwise.

“State Champs,” it read. “First In History.”

“It feels good,” said the sophomore point guard, holding his right hand just so to let the light catch all the encrusted gems. “Looks good, too.”

Lost in all the allegations, investigations, name-calling, finger-pointing and legal threats that have arisen over Northern Guilford’s basketball team is the not-so-insignificant fact that a group of boys won 30 games and a state championship before a Guilford County Schools investigation erased it all.

Players, parents and fans gathered at the Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport hotel Wednesday night to celebrate those accomplishments at the team’s annual awards ceremony.

Coach Stan Kowalewski, whose contract is not being renewed for next season, said the ceremony and rings were not an act of defiance — the state athletic association is not recognizing any school as its 3-A winner — but rather a way to celebrate the players’ accomplishments.

“They’ve gone through a lot in the past month,” said Kowalewski, who paid for the rings. “If this night can put a smile on their faces and it stays awhile, then mission accomplished.”

There were plenty of smiles throughout the evening — as when a video showed former principal Joe Yeager wearing a deflated basketball on his head at a game during the season.

There was plenty of applause, too — as when Kowalewski presented rings to former Athletics Director Derrell Force and former head custodian Louis Lawson. Both were in attendance.

Force, Yeager and Lawson resigned from Northern on April 10, the same day Guilford County Schools officials went public with their investigation into allegations of ineligible players. Lawson later rescinded his resignation, only to be fired.

A Guilford County Schools investigation that is ongoing has determined that five students in four sports were living outside the school’s attendance zone. Those infractions cost the Nighthawks their basketball title and also forced the baseball, wrestling and junior varsity softball teams to forfeit competitions in which those students participated.

But none of that seemed to matter to Kowalewski and his players Wednesday night. Kowalewski praised the players, saying their work ethic and dedication were to be admired.

“That is what the kids are guilty of,” he said. “They worked harder than anyone else.”

Sophomore forward Jacob Lawson, Louis Lawson’s son, said it was nice to spend an evening talking about basketball and only basketball.

“It’s been very stressful for us,” he said. “All the other students ask us what we did wrong and if I’m coming back. I still don’t know what we did wrong, and I’m definitely coming back.”

Neal couldn’t take his eyes off his ring.

“I’m going to have this forever,” he said. “They definitely can’t take this away.”

Contact Robert Bell at 373-7055 or robert.bell@news-record.com

Accompanying Photos

Joseph Rodriguez (News & Record)

Photo Caption: Players received a ring and a plaque during the off-campus awards ceremony  at the Greensboro-High Point Marriott Airport for Northern Guilford High School.

Comments

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GCSparent

May 28, 2009 - 6:08 am EDT

Good for those kids! They deserve to feel good about their accomplishment. I know being part of a team means that if one goes down they all go down but-the actions of a few adults shouldn't take away from what they achieved this year. They earned this and should feel proud of their achievement.

Having said that, now, can we move on to more important issues, like how are we going to fix our schools? How are we going to fix leaks, broken down HVAC equipment? How are we going to rid the schools of unhealthy and unsightly trailers? When is the community going to get as upset about the current school conditions as they have about this athletic issue? Priorities...

greywolf

May 28, 2009 - 8:56 am EDT

Nope. They didn't earn them. They cheated. What kind of life lesson is this? Cheaters win?

GCSparent

May 28, 2009 - 9:43 am EDT

The kids on the team most certainly earned the right to be proud of themselves, even if the adults in the situation did not. Please-use common sense. Just because a few adults made a mockery of the rules doesn't mean EVERY kid on that team cheated. Most of them played their hearts out all season "fair and square" just to be let down by some stupidity on the part of their leader and a few other parents. Are they all guilty because they showed up? Absolutely not. So I repeat myself-good for those kids for getting an opportunity to feel good about how they played all season. I'm not condoning super-bowlesque rings and bling...I'm just saying that for those that played hard and worked hard- an opportunity to feel good about themselves is definitely warranted. Good riddance to those who DID cheat and good luck to the team next year!

rooster8786

May 28, 2009 - 11:14 am EDT

Would these kids that played "fair and square" be rewarded with honor roll status if they cheated on a test? What about the ineligible players that knew they were not eligible? Did they play fair & square? GCSparent is demonstrating EXACTLY what is wrong in today's society. We now seek to blame someone else when we get caught breaking the rules. It's not the kids fault, it's some of the parents. It's not the kids fault, it's some of the coaches. It's not the kids fault, it's the administration. It's not the kids fault, it racism. Bottom line, they CHEATED by using inelible players and they are NOT state champions. PERIOD. They need to be taught, after all isn't that whats schools are supposed to do; teach, that actions have consequences. And just who paid for the rings, plaques, and "champions" dinner? Doesn't the school have thousands of dollars that has to be returned?

GCSparent

May 28, 2009 - 11:32 am EDT

What about the ineligible players that knew they were not eligible? Did they play fair & square?- Absolutely not. Nor did I condone their behavior.

I'm merely trying to stick up for those that were there "legally." I seek to blame no one. I am simply stating that for those that weren't aware that there were ineligible players on the team-(for anyone to say they ALL knowingly participated with ineligible players is just inaccurate) they deserve better than what they're getting. If I am wrong in trying to encourage those who did the right thing to feel good about THEMSELVES then that is a sad state of affairs. This whole incident is shameful and has now reached the point of ridiculousness.

Truly, what is wrong with this society is that so much time, money and energy has been spent on this issue when there are so many other pressing matters. Good grief...enough is enough and with that I will not waste any more time on this nonsense.
Please...please...please...have this much to say about the rest of the educational system and their downfalls.

Panacea

May 28, 2009 - 1:57 pm EDT

Honor and character are ALWAYS pressing issues. That some think otherwise is what is wrong with society.

It really does suck that the innocent have to be punished with the guilty. But if I were an innocent kid, and I found out I had cheaters on my team I would be: 1) ashamed of my team mates, 2) angry with the guilty, and 3) understand why I can't keep honors not truly earned.

That you can't understand this is why the issue needs to be pressed.

Citywatch

May 28, 2009 - 11:23 am EDT

Don't be so naive to think that these players didn't know what was going on. Perhaps they were powerless to stop the cheating but they were compliant none the less. They have nice rings - so what. But did they ever stop to think, and do you parents ever come down off your righteous pedestal to think about who got hurt in this matter - from the kids who didn't make the roster this year, the ones who ended up riding the bench, the other teams who worked just as hard and didn't cheat and came away empty handed.

This is a teaching moment! Seize the advantage and help your kids see that this was wrong. If you don't, don't blame the system years from now, or when they're in college and get caught cheating on a test, or using steroids. We know you love them, but blame yourselves.

Oona

May 28, 2009 - 6:25 am EDT

A big flashy ring for a high school athlete? whaaaaaaaat?

Paul J

May 28, 2009 - 6:34 am EDT

They broke the rules. End of story.

Interested

May 28, 2009 - 6:53 am EDT

This was not an act of defiance? Poppycock!!! Were all the other custodians who maintained the facility given a ring? Or every father? That one act defines this move as an "act of defiance." If he'd given the rings to only the team members I might possibly have believed him. Or if he'd given them to all those who had supported the team, not just the two men who resigned over this incident I might possibly consider his story plausible. But with each passing day it appears that this man taught these boys larger life lessons that were not necessarily in their best interest, or in the best interest of the communities that they will one day be part of as adults.

barbati

May 28, 2009 - 6:56 am EDT

Cool. Will Mr. K also be giving rings to the kids who would have won if he hadn't cheated? How about the local teams - like Page - who would have had a chance to win a state title if he hadn't pulled their players? Will Mr. K also be presenting rings to those teams?

kheel

May 28, 2009 - 6:57 am EDT

Congrats on the rings northern. Its a shame they mean nothing.

HNest

May 28, 2009 - 7:00 am EDT

Seems wearing a title ring is bit like padding the resume. A lie.

Norm*

May 28, 2009 - 7:20 am EDT

Some things just don't seem right, this is one of them.

guilfordcountyresident

May 28, 2009 - 7:32 am EDT

I don't agree with awarding the basketball players!....Because, according to their rules, there were inelligible players on the team which amounts to a form of cheating. Everyone suffers when you cheat! These kids are not being taught the correct lesson when you reward them for cheating. When they become independent residents of where ever they choose to live, they will take the knowledge of cheating to gain rewards and continue that fallacy.
We don't need any more of those types of indiscretions!

Panacea

May 28, 2009 - 7:55 am EDT

Coach K once again is acting in horrifically poor taste.

These kids didn't win anything. I know that hurts, and I know it sucks, but it's the truth. They did not win honestly, and that's why they lost their title.

The only thing that idiot has done now is reinforce the message "cheating is only bad if you get caught, and maybe not even then."

And the parents are wholeheartedly accomplices in that message. EVERY parent that allowed a kid to accept one of those rings is now just as guilty as the coach in this mess. They have made it crystal clear that honor and character are not valued.

SHAME ON YOU!

jksal2002

May 28, 2009 - 8:04 am EDT

Well Said Panacea. Parents who allowed their kids to accept rings for a championship they did not win are only reinforcing that what that loser coach did was acceptable. This guy is incredible: fist he recruits illegal students to the school, when he is fired, he tells the players not to play anywhere in Guilford County, and now he is buying them rings like it is all ok. It is not.

MsAshley09

May 28, 2009 - 8:21 am EDT

I disagree. I think that anyone who wasn't there everyday watching their practices and how hard they worked NO MATTER HOW THEY GOT TO THE SCHOOL has no say AT ALL. Everyone is talking down about Northern and for what?? Because of the fact that everyone else is doing it and they just mad no one else had a team good enough to win states like Northern did. I could care less what anyone else say about it. I'm pretty sure no other team's coach got them rings...why?? Because they lost & Northern WON.
The end. ;)

Norm*

May 28, 2009 - 8:55 am EDT

In any sport, the use of "ringers" is considered cheating.

Panacea

May 28, 2009 - 2:01 pm EDT

Northern would not have had 2 players that helped them win that "victory" had the rules been followed and the kids played where they were supposed to.

How hard you work DOES NOT MATTER if you are part of a team of cheaters.

What part of CHEATING don't you get?

Why is it you Northern athlete parents can't get it into your thick skulls that cheating is wrong? That your continued defense of the indefensible makes all the kids, innocent and guilty, part and party to the whole sordid affair?

You are not doing your children any favors by encouraging this kind of behavior.

football-lover

May 28, 2009 - 8:47 am EDT

First of all those kids did win the championship. As ateam they were the best in the state. You need to keep whatever problems you have with Coach K. with Coach K. Coach K did not shoot any baskets en route to this championship the kids did. Coach K did not run the miles around the school and lifts weights for countless hours the kids did. Coach K. did not bust his butt in the classroom and maintain the grades needed to play high school sports, the kids did. So no matter what is right or wrong thoses kids earned that championship and won it on the court through hard work and determination. So let the kids enjoy what they have accomplished. One more thing, what are all of you haters going to say when they turn around and do it again next year?

Panacea

May 28, 2009 - 2:02 pm EDT

What those kids did is tainted with the illegal activities of a few. You win as a team and you lose as a team.

If a couple of kids cheat, then the whole team must bear the cost. That's what makes it team work.

MsAshley09

May 28, 2009 - 8:07 am EDT

I am a former Northern student & I believe those dudes deserve everything they received. Everyone who says otherwise is a hater because a lot of other schools are guilty of the same mess. They worked very hard...I witnessed it!!! Anyone who wasn't there to watch their practices has no say AT ALL. Coach K. is also an AMAZING coach and he did a lot with the boys. They are like a family that coach K. put them together. I am not a fan of the school by itself but Northern Boys Varsity Basketball Team is ALL THAT and to all the haters guess what?? They still got a pretty HOTTTT ring to show for it. Congrats NORTHERN VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL!!

greywolf

May 28, 2009 - 9:03 am EDT

That is a sad commentary on the life lessons being taught at Northern. Apparently the broken values are pervasive throughout the student body. Can the entire administration there be terminated?

CoachMann78

May 28, 2009 - 8:30 am EDT

Why is everyone celebrating this event? Look, the coach cheated! An investigation was conducted after complaints, and it showed that the coach PLAYED INELIGIBLE PLAYERS! Playing ineligible players (knowingly) is cheating! It does not matter how you look at the situation, the coach cheated! How can we rally around a situation were the coach knowingly PLAYED INELIGIBLE PLAYERS! The community should be in an uproar because this coach allowed this to take place! He put the rest of the kids who were there in the district legally in jeopardy, and it cost the ones that were in the district legally, dearly! Please do not make this coach out to be the victim! That would not send a good message to the student-athletes! Accountability is what we should be teaching our kids. When you do wrong, you pay the price! I have dealt with the consequences of my actions, you have, and he is no different than you and I!

bball fan

May 28, 2009 - 8:56 am EDT

Is it just me, or is this is whole situation totally contradictory to everything that sports stand for? We celebrate a state championship that was stripped away by the NC High School Association..What about morals and values? When these young men leave home and have to compete in the real world, who is going to bale them out then? I know that many people are in denial about this situation, but Northern played ineligible players. They broke the rules, plain and simple..

For all of you who say other schools are doing it, go downtown and tell Mo Green everything you know, and let's see what happens. He said he would look into all allegations..Isn't that what you want? Doesn't misery love company?

Or better yet, post right here online everything you know, so everyone can know what you know about all of the cheating in Guilford County!!!!

ForTheKids

May 28, 2009 - 9:24 am EDT

First of all, Coach K did not knowingly play ineligible players. Secondly, The elgibility is being challenged with good reason

barbati

May 28, 2009 - 1:45 pm EDT

Put the coffee on!

greywolf

May 28, 2009 - 8:55 am EDT

I must confess, I was no great fan of hiring a lawyer to run our school system. However, if terminating this coach can be traced back to Mr. Green's office, he has earned my respect for the duration of his time in Greensboro. There is NO room in our schools for these type shenanigans. Farewell, Stan; the school system is better off without you. Take heart, though, you'll make more money as a sports agent anyway.

GCS Parent

May 28, 2009 - 9:21 am EDT

The more I hear from Stan K. the more I like Mo Green! This is a completely shameful display of defiance and arrogance. You can put rings on the fingers of every kid and parent in the school but it doesn't make it right. The only message this give is that "The end justifies the means". This tells all those kids that "yes we cheated, but it doesn't matter because we worked really hard while we did it and WE WON so it shouldn't matter!" We have become a society of victims and whiners. Getting rid of this coach/sports agent is the best thing I have seen GCS do in a long time. Is anyone questioning the large amounts of money that Stan has clearly spent on this team? Do conflicts of interest not ever come into play here? Do faculty coaches fund their teams like this? No they don't! And I wonder... does the NBA give all the custodians in their stadiums championship rings? Was this "awards" ceremony planned BEFORE or AFTER April 10th??? The whole thing looks like "Stan's Last Stand". Sickens me!

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