Northern Illinois’ Jamaal Bass now admits drug use
Things seem to be getting worse for Northern Illinois linebacker Jamaal Bass (No. 6, right side).
He appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to felonious assault and misdemeanor assault stemming from an incident Nov. 1 where he jumped shoulder first into a Toledo band member and knocked down another while the Huskies were running onto the field prior to their game against the Rockets.
But Bass' day in court took a turn for the worst when the judge ordered him to be drug tested and asked what a drug test might show. According to the Toledo Blade, Bass responded that he would test positive for marijuana.
"I didn't know that football players at university could smoke dope," judge Ruth Ann Franks said.
While Bass, who was booked and released on bond, waits for trial, the judge ordered a monitored recognizance bond, which includes regular phone contacts, drug and alcohol testing.
Despite all this, Bass remains a member of Northern Illinois' football team. The school released a statement saying it would take the appropriate action regarding Bass' confession, but that didn't necessarily include removing him from the program.
"Northern Illinois Athletics has in place a Drug Testing Policy which applies to all student-athletes," the statement read. "That policy dictates a specific course of action which NIU will now begin with football's Jamaal Bass based on his statement today in Toledo."
Bass could face up to nine years in prison if convicted. Initially, Bass jumped into a male band member, causing his head to snap back and hit a female member. The male sustained a concussion and the female suffered facial injuries and headaches. In all, four members were knocked over as a result of Bass' negligence.
Bass will next appear in court on April 25. I hope for his sake he has no more surprises to share.
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