Change of Heart -- Jones May Be Released...

But not to Northern Illinois.

Demetrius Jones may be released from his scholarship after all.

Notre Dame released a statement late Thursday saying it will help the former Irish quarterback find a place the school will release him too.

“It’s our hope that Demetrius can enroll at an institution at which he might be able to receive a scholarship, possibly be eligible for the 2008 football season and, importantly, continue to make progress toward his degree without interruption,” Notre Dame athletics director Kevin White said in a statement.

White said in the statement that the university will help Jones compile a list of schools.

A university source, though, told the Journal Gazette that Northern Illinois -- where Jones is currently enrolled – will not be on the list of places Notre Dame will allow the Chicago native to be released to. The same source said the list could contain 70 schools.

Currently, Northern Illinois has a full load of scholarships, so the DeKalb, Ill. school would not be allowed to give Jones one until 2008 anyway. If Jones chooses to attend a school without obtaining his release, he would have to pay his way for one year before being allowed to have a scholarship.

Notre Dame’s policy is to not release players to schools that would play the Irish while he would be enrolled at the new school. Northern Illinois is not currently on any future Notre Dame schedule.

Jones left Notre Dame a week ago when he chose not to board the bus to Michigan. He was listed as a student at Northern Illinois at that point but as of Thursday evening was no longer listed in the school's on-line student directory.

The sophomore started Notre Dame’s season opener against Georgia Tech and played less than a half, completing 1 of 3 passes for four yards. He had initially beat out junior Evan Sharpley and freshman Jimmy Clausen for the job and in the week after the Georgia Tech game, Irish coach Charlie Weis named Clausen the starter for Penn State.

Clausen has started since.

-By Michael Rothstein of The Journal Gazette

Comments

[What a Guy!]

That AD is some guy. He will release Jones, but not to the only school that he can play for in 2008. NCAA rules dictate that he needed to have enrolled at a school by the 12th class day to be eligible. Of course NIU would be the only D1 school to where he could meet that criteria.

So White thinks he can have his cake and eat it too. He can offer to help Jones, by really taking his ability to play next year away. This, so that when Weis has to answer to recruits questions about Jones, he can say, "Well, we did the best we could to help Demetrius", which is, of course, not true.

But also, White is really screwing every walk-on who wants to play for the Irish, but showing that he is more interested in proving a point to a player than providing help to kids that DO want to be there.

I don't care where Demetrius goes, but don't let these pieces-of-garbage in the ND administration trick you into thinking they are not spiteful little jerks.

[Belden]

What a guy - your premise is completely wrong. What do you mean NIU is the only D1 school he could transfer to? There are many D1 schools that only started classes this week and some that aren't starting classes until next week, 9/24. Before you blow a gasket, get your facts straight. ND's position as stated in White's press release is responsible and entirely appropriate.

[Chuckie]

Wow, the administration at ND is decent, whereas the school was treated irresponsibly. What a contrast.

[Mike]

You guys are wrong. It is not ND that is wrong but Jones. ND paid his way to play football and he has one year of college under his belt. He took snaps in practice last week knowing he was leaving. Jones screwed a possible walk on over by taking a scholarship. What a competitor he is. Not starting well I will just take my ball and leave then.