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Quote:Jones talk of Public League
Weis won't shy away from recruiting in area

By Brian Hamilton
Tribune staff reporter

September 19, 2007, 10:20 PM CDT


SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- As much as Notre Dame might want the Demetrius Jones saga to descend rapidly into irrelevance, it simmers in one of the Irish's potential recruiting grounds: the Chicago Public League.

"It's on the tip of everybody's tongue at all our games," said Calvin Davis, director of sports administration for the Public League. "For the community in general, it's a hot topic. It's big news."

Still, after hearing chatter for a few days, Davis doesn't believe Notre Dame's decision not to release Jones from his scholarship is catastrophic to the Irish's chances of recruiting Public League players.

Davis even acknowledged that while the Public League supports Jones, a former Morgan Park star, most understand his departure could have been handled differently. Meanwhile, the denial of release should not affect Jones' ability to play for his apparent new school, Northern Illinois.

But the situation doesn't help. Davis said his constituency may be circumspect with Notre Dame for the time being, especially looking at how the Irish handle freshman tailback Robert Hughes, a former Hubbard standout.

"People certainly are watching this situation closely," Davis said. "People are watching and wanting to think wherever they go, they'll be treated fairly."

As for questions about his team's future ability to recruit the Public League, Irish coach Charlie Weis offered this answer: Corwin Brown, Notre Dame defensive coordinator, Julian High School graduate.

"Anything that anyone wants to know, I have one of the greatest resources going, one of the most respected people to come out of the Chicago Public League," Weis said Wednesday. "I don't think we'll have any problems with the Chicago Public League."

Quote:"Anything that anyone wants to know, I have one of the greatest resources going, one of the most respected people to come out of the Chicago Public League," Weis said Wednesday. "I don't think we'll have any problems with the Chicago Public League."

Despite playing like crap this year, Weis just seems to sounds more and more arrogant each and every day.

ND has always recruited the public league but they dont have that great of a success rate. Many are recruited by ND, but many dont sign a LOI. The standards at ND makes it hard enough for any athlete to get in.
If it wasn't for Corwin Brown, Robert Hughes would be in Champaign. Atleast Weis is smart to bring in coaches with good connections.

Espousing dogma is not an unfamiliar characteristic in SD, In.

Remember the dust stirred by Hornung & Duerson?

I think it's pretty crazy and counterproductive by denying Jones his scholly. Here is a take on it at DeathRattle.

Notre Dame-Charlie Weis-Demetrius Jones- Questions, not Answers