Big Ten links: Take a spin around Wednesday's headlines

The College Football Hall of Fame ballot is out. And there are plenty of Big Ten players on it.

***

Strong take from Andy Baggot of BadgerBeat.com, who says departed coach Gary Andersen shouldn?t take credit for Wisconsin?s recent academic success.

Does Andersen have a stake in that score? Of course he does, but it?s minimal. Baggot points out that predecessor, Bret Bielema, who coached the Badgers from 2006-12 before leaving for Arkansas, is much more vested in that APR status, given that the roster is dominated by his recruits.

***

Ex-Michigan A.D. Dave Brandon has landed as CEO of Toys ?R? Us. The news lit up the Twittersphere with plenty of jokes about it, too.

Brandon, 63, resigned as Michigan's athletic director last October after a rocky tenure that featured the failed tenure of football coach Brady Hoke, a concussion saga, fan unrest over ticket prices and a business-like attitude toward college athletics and various other off-field issues.

***

Good Q&A with former Minnesota WR Isaac Fruechte, who is chasing an NFL dream with the Vikings.

Isaac Fruechte caught 50 passes in his career, including 18 as a senior in 2014. Those aren?t huge numbers, but he did enough as an undrafted free agent to not only get an invitation to the Vikings? rookie camp but also to get signed.

***

Former Purdue women?s hoops coach Lin Dunn weighs in on the hiring of Isiah Thomas, who was named president and part owner of the WNBA?s New York Liberty. And, she?s not too fired up about it-understandably.

"I'm concerned that anyone who had been found guilty of sexual harassment would be back in a position working with women,? said Dunn.

***

Former Indiana big man Hanner Mosquera-Perea has landed at ? East Tennessee State.

He was dismissed from the program earlier this offseason, after being involved in an incident during which fellow teammate Devin Davis was cited for marijuana possession. Davis was also dismissed from the program. Mosquera-Perea's best season at IU was his last, when he averaged 6.5 points and 4.3 rebounds per game. He joins fellow former Hoosier Peter Jurkin, who transferred to ETSU last summer.

***

Wait, there?s more Indiana roster movement: Max Bielfeldt will leave Michigan and play his fifth season at Indiana.

I?m not sure why Bielfeldt would want to leave a Michigan squad that is poised for big things. Yes, Indiana looks primed to do well, too. Still, why not just stay put in a situation that you are familiar with? Oh, well.

***

Kyle Flood in a celebrity softball game in Yankee Stadium? Yep. Have a look.

***

Former Nebraska great Lawrence Phillips is in the clink. And, he says it?s not a fun place to be.

In letters to former coaches, Phillips described his Kern Valley State Prison home in California as a "jungle" with "trouble everywhere." Sounds about right. Not sure what Phillips was expecting.

***

This is kind of a bummer: Purdue recruit Caleb Swanigan, Indiana?s Mr. Basketball, won?t take part in the annual Indiana vs. Kentucky hoops games. It was expected due to Caleb Swanigan's USA Basketball conflict. Still, it?s always best is the state?s top player can take part in the iconic series.

***

And if you want to leave a comment on this post, use the box below. All comments need to be approved by a moderator.