Quote:Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis issued a statement saying he was informed at 2:30 p.m. Friday that Jones would not be traveling with the team to Michigan. Jones had practiced with Notre Dame as recently as Thursday.
"I have not spoken to Demetrius and can only say that he missed the team bus," Weis said in the statement. "Any additional comment would be without all the facts."

Messages left for NIU athletic director Jim Phillips and NIU assistant athletics director for media relations Donna Turner were not immediately returned.

If Jones has transferred to NIU, he might have to sit out both the 2007 and 2008 football seasons, leaving him with only two years of eligibility remaining. According to NCAA Bylaw 14.5.1.1, a transfer student from a four-year school such as Notre Dame can't be eligible to play for a full academic year. If the player enrolls at a different school after the 12th day of classes, he cannot use that semester as part of the "academic year of residence."

Since NIU started classes Aug. 27, Jones would have had to enroll as a full-time student by Wednesday -- the 12th day -- in order to use the fall semester to establish residency.