[johnnd05]

From the Chicago Tribune:

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 Jonessaga
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 Weisoffered 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."