The Chicago Sun-Times: Weis says Jones has 'moved on'

Novak said he had been told Notre Dame will not grant a release, but he added: ''They can't keep him from going to school here. He has to sit out a calendar year. All a release does is it gives us an opportunity to give the youngster a scholarship right away. I don't have a scholarship to give him right now anyway.''

Jones has intimated that Notre Dame coaches knew he was leaving before he didn't show up for the team bus to Michigan on Friday, and when running back James Aldridge was asked about it Tuesday, he said, ''The coaches, they knew.''

The Chicago Tribune: Irish balk at Jones release - ND unhappy how departure happened; QB still lands at NIU

He will not be able to receive an athletic scholarship from Northern Illinois this school year without the release -- though a spokeswoman for the football program said it doesn't have a scholarship to give Jones anyway. But a lack of release should not preclude Jones from practicing with the Huskies once he clears various hurdles with the school, according to the spokeswoman.

Football scholarships are renewed on an annual basis, so Jones would not be stuck in football purgatory. He would be released from Notre Dame before next season and NIU could give Jones a scholarship at that time if it so chooses.

The Beacon News: Jones questions continue to dog Novak

The Northern Illinois football coach found himself talking nearly as much about a potential player - former Notre Dame quarterback Demetrius Jones - at his weekly press conference Tuesday as he did about the players on his roster. With his team 0-3, the distraction might be worth the trouble.

"They tell me he's got some classes (at NIU), but I have not been cleared to talk to the youngster," said Novak.

"Is he here? From what I've been told, yes. I have yet to meet face to face with him."

The press conference was held in the second floor auditorium of the Yordon Center. Afterwards, Novak went east down the hall to his office to participate in a weekly teleconference for out-of-town media.

Reporters exiting the building nearly 15 minutes after the conference spotted Jones, decked out in Huskie red and black, and NIU linebacker Phil Brown entering the first floor academic corridor. It features offices, classrooms where study tables are held for the school's athletes and a computer lab.