Jason Ford Arrested Sunday Morning For Outstanding Warrant

Jason Ford, who is projected to be the starting running back for the Fighting Illini this fall, was reportedly arrested Sunday morning around 2 am, when authorities apparently responded to a disturbance and discovered an outstanding warrant for Ford.

Illini HQ's Bob Asmussen reports:

- Illinois starting tailback Jason Ford was arrested just after 2 a.m. Sunday on a warrant from McLean County charging him with driving a suspended license.

UI police Lt. Roy Acree said someone heard a "verbal domestic" argument on north side of the parking garage at Fifth and Daniel streets and called police.
Acree said police found Ford and a 22-year-old Champaign woman there. A routine check on Ford turned up the outstanding warrant. He was not arrested for anything else.

Illinois coach Ron Zook issued a statement: "I became aware of the situation Sunday morning and will allow Jason the opportunity to work through this issue. Any disciplinary action will be handled internally."

It sounds as if Ford was not arrested for anything that he did Saturday night/Sunday morning per se, but was simply arrested for the warrant that was issued a year ago, for driving under a suspended license. First, this is the first I have heard of Ford having any legal problems, and Ford being arrested in April 2010, which is when the warrant was issued was not something I recall ever being made public.

There is a history of this coaching staff allowing players to work there way out of a legal dog house, and if this is all it turns out to be, I have no doubt that Ford will have every opportunity to remain on the team.

Still, this isn't exactly the sort of news you want to hear coming off of apparently good spring practices.