ESPN College Football

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Who says June is a dead zone? A ton of links for you today.

• Some interesting comments from Illinois head coach Ron Zook, who blames himself for easing off in preseason practice last year and doesn't expect defensive lineman Jerry Brown to be back, Loren Tate writes in The (Champaign) News-Gazette. Also, safety Donsay Hardeman (neck surgery) has been cleared medically. 

"It doesn't look good for Jerry Brown," Zook said. "There's a pretty good chance he won't be here. He is the only one with serious academic problems. As for Josh Brent, I'll comment later. I hope he can come back, but I have to sit down with [athletic director Ron] Guenther when his situation is more clarified."

• Penn State picked up a big commitment from defensive end Kyle Baublitz (great name) during the weekend, while defensive coordinator Tom Bradley is racking up recruits in the western part of the state, Ron Musselman writes in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.  
• Wisconsin thankfully adjusted its bonus structure for coaches, reducing the rewards given for reaching minor bowl games, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Mark Stewart writes in his blog. 

The percentage payout for the Motor City Bowl drops from 5% of a coach's salary to 2%. The Insight Bowl drops from 5% to 3%. The Champs Bowl drops from 10% to 5%. Here are the bonus percentages for Wisconsin's other bowl possibilities: Capital One and Outback, 10%; Rose, Orange, Sugar or Fiesta Bowl, 15%; national championship game appearance, 25%; national championship, 30%.

• Ohio State's recent slide in big games has happened before, Doug Lesmerises writes in The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  
• Former Michigan State coach George Perles plans to run for governor next year, Shannon Shelton writes in the Detroit Free Press.
  
• Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez conducted a women's football clinic this weekend and confirmed that offensive lineman Dann O'Neill is no longer with the team, Mark Snyder writes in the Free Press. 
• Minnesota recruit Bryant Allen wants to hoop it up as well, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press. Bud Grant mourns the loss of his close friend Billy Bye, Sid Hartman writes in the Star Tribune.

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

Very sad news out of Minnesota, as former Golden Gophers MVP Billy Bye drowned Friday following a boating accident on Bay Lake. He was 81. 

Bye was Minnesota's MVP in 1946 and starred for the team from 1946 to '49. He was a 19th-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1949. 

Bye reportedly was boating with his wife and close friends and entered the water when the boat's motor became entangled. Passengers tried to throw him lifejackets, but he wasn't able to get out of the water.