Badger Bits: Zach Brown leaving Wisconsin

If you didn't see it last night, Adam has a report that running back Zach Brown plans to transfer from Wisconsin after he graduates in August. The redshirt senior will still be eligible to play for a FBS team next year if he meets his academic requirements.

Obviously this is a pretty big deal, but I wouldn't call it surprising. Brown fell from being the starter at running back in 2009 to fourth on the depth chart in 2010, and after the Badgers' spring camp it was clear both Montee Ball and James White were going to be the top two options at running back. However Jeff Potrykus of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel thinks Brown's decision is a little surprising, given his comments during spring camp.

Obviously, Brown's departure has a few domino effects. First of all, the Badgers are down to 85 scholarship players, meaning there will be more room for a transfer (read: Russell Wilson) once cuts are made in the fall. Also, redshirt freshman Jeff Lewis and freshman Melvin Gordon will both get looks in the fall to see who can be the third down back, and in my amateur opinion Lewis has the inside track.

Tom Mulhern of Madison.com has his story about Brown's decision to transfer away from Wisconsin.

Check out Adam Rittenberg's Big Ten mailblog. He always has some great insight.

ESPN's College Football Blog has some notes from the Big Ten spring meetings.

Hopefully you saw this yesterday, but Rob Schultz has a story about next year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge. The Badgers get a tough assignment as they have to travel to Chapel Hill and take on the Tarheels.

Men's hockey head coach Mike Eaves speaks about his signings for the 2011-2012 season.

The Big Ten will likely map out their plan for Big Ten Hockey at the spring meetings, according to Andy Baggot of Madison.com.

Finally, I'd just like to take a second and thank Minnesota Twins legend Harmon Killebrew for bringing such joy and happiness to the community. Killebrew passed away yesterday of esophageal cancer, and he was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I met him once before, and we should count ourselves lucky if more athletes conducted themselves like Killer.

That's it for me today- have a great one!