Something just doesn't add up here.I was initially just bummed that Demetrius Jones had decided to leave Notre Dame. From all accounts, and I mean all accounts, Demetrius was a great kid with an infectious personality. He was a "naturally born leader." So even though the initial reports that he failed to show up for the team bus to Michigan (sucks!) seemed to go against that shining reputation, for the most part I gave him the benefit of the doubt. I figured this was some weird ploy on Charlie's part to hide the fact that Demetrius had transferred from Michigan (sucks!). Afterall, ND had shown they will run some elements of a spread offense, so why not make Michigan (sucks!) spend practice time last week on that offense, considering the fits they've had with the spread since, well, pretty much since it was invented?
Then things got weird. Demetrius' own mother denied knowing anything about the move. More than that, she said she was surprised by the move. How in the world does a kid's own mother not know about a little something like the kid ditching a scholarship to Notre Dame to transfer to another school? And on top of that, Demetrius' old high school coach denied having any knowledge as well. That tells me right away that one of 2 things happened: 1) Demetrius did this, essentially, all on his own, without any sort of guidance from any adults that you'd normally think a smart kid would look to for advice, or 2) Demetrius did this with the help of some adults, and those adults helped to cover it all up.
But then why even practice with the ND football team on Wednesday and Thursday? Hell, why even practice with the ND football team last week? Apparently, Demetrius was enrolled at NIU on September 4th. What the?
A source close to the NIU program said he was told that Jones enrolled at the school on Sept. 4 -- the same day Clausen was named the Irish starter. A Demetrius Armond Jones of Chicago is listed in NIU's online student directory.
Even more bizarre, NIU's head coach claims he doesn't know anything about Jones' situation, nor has the coach ever spoken with Jones.
''I can tell you this, I've heard a lot of rumors,'' he said. ''I've heard a lot of stuff. All I can tell you is I have had absolutely no contact with him, his family or any representatives of [his family], nor have our coaches. So I've listened to the same rumors everybody else is. That's all I know.''
Meanwhile, Jones shows up at the NIU game, and was also granted a player pass for the game. So how does the NIU coach know nothing?
Someone, and probably more than one, is lying here. Meanwhile Jones isn't saying a word. That's ok. His actions have spoken plenty. What seems quite clear is that Jones, and perhaps some cohorts, kept Charlie Weis and the ND football team in the dark about his intentions to screw his teammates and transfer. Some have voiced concern that such a thing is even possible under Weis' watch, but, let's get real here for a moment. In this day and age of e-mail, cell phones, instant messaging, and Facebook, you can communicate with a lot of people without various heavily interested parties ever knowing about it. And either it's true that even Jones' own mother didn't know this was happening, or I think I know where Demetrius learned how to lie and keep a secret. So let's not get carried away there. Ultimately, all that's happened is a kid got bad advice from someone somewhere (or maybe his own internal voice), and decided that being secretive and letting his former teammates down was a better approach than having to man up and tell Weis face-to-face about his desires and decisions.
We tend to like to focus on Notre Dame around here, and since Demetrius now has exactly what he wants, from here on out we're not going to discuss him, no matter what facts may arise in the future. The actions of Demetrius Jones were not those of a Notre Dame man. Fitting.
Normally, when a ND player decides to transfer, we Domers tend to just wish the kid luck. I'll carry on that tradition here. Good luck, Demetrius. You're going to need it.
By gwzimm September 16, 2007 - 7:53 pm
Jones cannot gat a scholarship from another University until he is granted a release from Notre Dame. That might be tough to get based on the way he handled this thing.
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By Trey September 16, 2007 - 9:50 pm
You’re being too nice on this kid. Screw him. We dont need his kind here.
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By another domer September 17, 2007 - 3:02 am
Would Lou Holtz have held up a departure time 20 minutes waiting for any player on his squad, let alone a back up player? Who is actually in charge here, the coaches or the players? Where’s the discipline on or off the field?
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By domer.mq September 17, 2007 - 8:56 am
another domer,
I may have missed it cuz I can’t read good, but where did it say that Weis held up the bus for 20 minutes?
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By Face Mask September 17, 2007 - 9:15 am
domer,you are right.It would be best to wish him luck and let this go.I’d like to say “see ya on a milk carton”but I won’t.Good luck kid and may God bless.
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By gwzimm September 17, 2007 - 10:05 am
I see where we still have 2 games in 2009 listed as “TBD.” Let’s have Kevin White schedule Northern Illinois and hang up about 60 on them.
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By another domer September 17, 2007 - 1:52 pm
One of the TV types said Charlie held the bus up 20 minutes while they were trying to find him. I’m not sure what level of credibility I would give a TV announcer/broadcaster, though. So, it may be a bogus statement.
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By domer.mq September 17, 2007 - 2:06 pm
another domer,
yeah, I remember them saying that, but I think they just stunk at math. It’s more like Charlie found out 20 minutes before the bus left, at 2:30.
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By gwzimm September 17, 2007 - 4:00 pm
The Chicago newspapers said the same thing about holding the bus for 20 minutes
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By The Biscuit September 17, 2007 - 4:28 pm
in this case, i will quote the greatest sports movie ever, in “Major League”. “who gives a shit, [he's] gone/” whether charlie held up the bus or not is irrelevant. people hold up buses for many reasons. and we dont know if he did or did not. what we do know is that DD left, no one knows why, and it’s weird. i say it’s an ok thing – he clearly wasnt happy, and wouldnt have been in the long run. though of course i think it’s a mistake to give up so easily, it’s his choice. it will be better for the team as well – less drama, more truly blue chip QB’s behind center.
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By Mr. Wednesday September 17, 2007 - 6:41 pm
It’s OK that Jones left. It’s not OK that in doing so, he snuck out the back door and torpedoed his teammates.
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By another domer September 18, 2007 - 1:05 am
Biscuit, I think you’re missing my point. I could care less about any player leaving the team/school. It’s always happened and it always will. My point is that Lou “taught” such a high level of discipline to his players and assistants, that no one would ever be late because they know that when he says “you will be on the bus by…” that they would not be going or playing if they were not on the bus by that time. Remember the Ricky Watters and Tony Brooks incident prior to the USC game in 1988? A Holtz run team’s bus would wait for no one. What does everyone else feel about this?
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By The Biscuit September 18, 2007 - 2:10 pm
i get what you’re saying, AD, but i doubt that charlie would have left behind his 3rd string QB without a replacement on his way to MI. especially given how things have been going. if we were 4-deep at the position, or if our o-line wasnt letting anyone TOUCH our starting QB, then i’d get just leaving. but in this case, i’d have probably stuck around too.
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By ND Alum September 18, 2007 - 3:01 pm
If you’re enrolled at another school (like, say…Northern Illinois), can you play in another school’s (just as an example…Notre Dame) games? If he was enrolled at Northern Illinois on 4 Sept, what would that meant for his eligibility against Penn State?
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By The Biscuit September 18, 2007 - 4:28 pm
you know, i’m not sure. that’s a good question. i guess it really comes down to whether you can be enrolled in 2 schools at once. if so, it’s probably fine. if not, no. but i’ve never heard of it so i’m clueless. good Q though…hmmmmmm….
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