Miami (FL) Northwestern Bulls

[wadc45]

Likely to churn out the most D1 prospects than any other HS program this year, despite dealing with the fallout from a scandal...

Football spared but coaches ousted at Northwestern High - 07/12/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

Miami Northwestern High School will keep its vaunted football program but lose its football coaching staff following a grand jury report on the coverup of a sex scandal at the school.

BY TANIA deLUZURIAGA AND ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
tdeluzuriaga@MiamiHerald.com

Miami Northwestern's football team can defend its state championship this year, but its coaching staff will be gone.

In a decision announced Wednesday at a packed School Board meeting, Miami-Dade Superintendent Rudy Crew backed off his threat to suspend the Bulls' storied football program -- but he implemented tough new rules of football participation for Northwestern and the district's nine other F-rated schools.

Crew held up a list of 21 teachers, coaches and counselors who knew about but did not report a sex scandal involving former star running back Antwain Easterling, and said all of them will be removed from the school. That list includes football coach Roland Smith and his staff, news that prompted team members attending the meeting to abruptly leave.

Continued...

RP Discussion Links: Brandon Washington, Marcus Forston, Aldarius Johnson, Sean Spence, Jacory Harris

[wadc45]

Dre's Dish on Miami-Dade High School Sports

Sports Illustrated posted its Top 10 national high school programs today.

Northwestern came in fourth place in recognition of their football and girls' track and field state championships this past season.

The top 10 in order:

1. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.): Oregon's top athletic program the past 13 years had five state titles: Football, girls' cross-country, boys' swimming, girls' tennis, and men's golf

2. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

3. Warren Central (Indianapolis): Indiana's first football program to win 4 straight state titles

4. Northwestern

5. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, CA)

6. John Curtis (River Ridge, La.): finished fourth in the nation last year in football

7. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA): basketball powerhouse

8. Southlake Carroll (Texas): USA Today's defending national football champions, winners of 48 straight games, and NW's opponent Sept. 15 in Texas

9. Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)

10. Long Beach Poly (CA) and BC High (Dorchester, Mass.)

[wadc45]

Northwestern players speak about coaching change - 07/12/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ AND MANNY NAVARRO
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

A day after learning their coaches were dismissed, several Miami Northwestern players returned to their summer workouts in a somber mood, but determined to stick together.

''At first when we found out what happened, transferring was talked about,'' said senior quarterback Jacory Harris, speaking for the first time since coach Roland Smith and the rest of state-championship winning coaching staff were relieved of their duties by Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Rudy Crew. "I'm definitely staying and every one of the guys has told me they're sticking together."

Continued...

RP Discussion Links: Brandon Washington, Marcus Forston, Aldarius Johnson, Sean Spence, Jacory Harris

[wadc45]

Rolle might return to Bulls - 07/19/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

Rolle might return to Bulls
Billy Rolle allegedly has stepped down at Miami Central to coach at Northwestern, a school he led to a state title in 1998.
BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ AND MANNY NAVARRO
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

Miami Northwestern, the nation's preseason No. 1 ranked high school football team, is expected to formally announce its new coach and athletic director Friday.

But the choice appears to have already been made.

Billy Rolle, who led the Bulls to the Class 6A state championship in 1998 and won another title at Killian in 2004, is expected to be the school's choice. Earl Allick, the athletic director at South Miami, is expected to assume the same position at Northwestern.

Continued...

RP Discussion Links: Brandon Washington, Marcus Forston, Aldarius Johnson, Sean Spence, Jacory Harris

[wadc45]

Top-ranked Bulls overpower Chiefs - 09/02/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

NORTHWESTERN 42, CAROL CITY 0

Quarterback Jacory Harris threw for a career-high 330 yards and three touchdowns to lead Northwestern past Carol City.

Posted on Sun, Sep. 02, 2007

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

The Northwestern players heard the questions all week at school.

What's wrong with the defense? How can you guys give up 41 points?

'I got stopped by a teacher in the hallway, and she asked me `Do you play on defense?' '' senior offensive lineman Brandon Washington said. 'I told her I didn't. She said `I was about to have a word with you if you did.' ''

A week after giving up 41 points in a preseason game against Deerfield Beach, Northwestern put the subpar performance behind them by shutting out Carol City 42-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Traz Powell Stadium on Saturday night.

Continued...

[wadc45]

ESPN - High school divide: No. 1 ends No. 2's streak at 49 - High School Sports

By Christopher Lawlor
ESPN.com

Updated: September 16, 2007, 3:40 AM ET

DALLAS -- Miami Northwestern left no doubt who is the nation's top high school football team.

And that's no bull.

OK, actually, the Northwestern Bulls are No. 1 in the ESPN Super 25 rankings and will stay atop the fray after traveling to No. 2 Southlake (Texas) Carroll.

In Saturday night's 29-21 victory over Carroll, the Bulls demonstrated the essence of their pass-oriented offense. Northwestern's superior speed beat out Carroll's historic four-year run of 49 consecutive wins and an emerald green-clad Carroll throng.

Continued...

[wadc45]

Big plays carry Bulls past Central - 10/28/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

BY ANDRE C. FERNANDEZ
a1fernandez@MiamiHerald.com

Central's football team was determined not to get embarrassed by Northwestern for the second consecutive season in the Orange Bowl.

Northwestern, the top-ranked team in the nation, got a tough contest from its biggest rivals Saturday night, but secured a 24-12 victory against Central thanks to a handful of big plays.

The Bulls (8-0, 4-0 district) captured the District 13-6A championship in front of an estimated 22,000 fans, and they extended their winning streak to 23 games.

Continued...

Northwestern defensive back Tevin McCaskill runs for the end zone after intercepting a pass intended for a Central wide receiver during the second quarter on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2007 at the Orange Bowl.

[wadc45]

NW's Forston, Krop's Sabino chosen - 11/17/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

BY J.T. WILCOX
Miami Herald Writer

The Miami Northwestern Bulls took the first step in their quest to repeat as 6A state champions Friday night as they completely dominated the Coral Gables Cavaliers in a 53-10 rout at Traz Powell Stadium.

The Bulls, who are ranked No. 1 in the nation by every major poll, looked to be clicking on all cylinders; gaining 377 yards of offense and only allowing the Cavaliers to gain 127 yards.

Senior quarterback Jacory Harris had one of his best performances of the season, completing 15 of 18 passes for 211 yards and 4 touchdowns and running for two more touchdowns.

Harris said that he was just taking what the defense was giving him.

Continued...

[wadc45]

Bulls proving they're special - 12/08/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

A perfect finish for Northwestern - 12/08/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

[wadc45]

Miami-Northwestern returns to limelight despite adversity

By CARLOS FRIAS

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Saturday, December 15, 2007

MIAMI — They can understand why you think what you do about Miami-Northwestern.

If you've heard of the school at all, you know this much: A year ago, a 19-year-old star football player had sex with a 14-year-old freshman - a crime by state law, regardless of whether it was consensual - on campus.

His coaches knew it. His principal knew it at least two days before the state title game. And still they let him play. Northwestern won handily.

There was a grand jury investigation and a principal was dismissed. Nearly the entire coaching staff, including the head coach, was fired. The athletic director resigned a month before this season started, The girl was sent to counseling. The boy, Antwan Easterling, lost several scholarship offers and ended up at a small school in Mississippi.

Continued...

ESPN - Miami Northwestern goes wire-to-wire as No. 1 - High School Sports

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It started in the third quarter. What began as a few voices became an ocean of sound crashing down to the field of the Florida Citrus Bowl.

The chants of "We're No. 1" cascaded from the upper reaches of the Northwestern (Miami) cheering section. The words, and the win that accompanied them, validated a season in which the Bulls captured their second straight Florida Class 6A state championship Saturday night before 21,235.

Northwestern, No. 1 in the ESPN HIGH Elite 25, also can lay claim to a national championship following a 41-0 lopsided victory over Boone (Orlando).

The second half was a countdown to greatness as Northwestern fans pointed their index fingers skyward, signifying another championship. The game was so one-sided heading into the fourth quarter that a running clock was used for the final 12 minutes.

"Our goal was to win a state championship but if they want to throw in a national championship I'm for it," Northwestern coach Billy Rolle said.

Continued...

Bulls capture second straight state title - 12/16/2007 - MiamiHerald.com

Northwestern continued rolling through its opponents as the Bulls won their 30th consecutive game, capturing the Class 6A title.

Perfection achieved.

On a night when the Florida High School Athletic Association honored the best teams of the first century of Florida high school football, Miami Northwestern made its case to be placed at the top of the list.

Like they did for most of the past two seasons, the Bulls won their second consecutive Class 6A state championship Saturday night by thoroughly dominating Orlando Boone 41-0 in front of a crowd of 22,752 at the Florida Citrus Bowl.

Continued...