Interesting stuff around the midwest today …

According to The Indianapolis Star, Indiana head coach Kelvin Sampson won’t allow the media to talk to freshmen this season. And while IU boasts four frosh, it’s clearly a way take some pressure of star guard Eric Gordon, the favorite for Big Ten newcomer of the year. Sampson said the policy is a way to foster better chemistry … and to keep those ugly Indy tv mic flags away from Gordon’s mug (ok, not the last part) …

Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, a preseason favorite to at least make the final Heisman Trophy cut, told The Louisville Courier-Journal he’s glad he returned for his senior season, despite the team’s mediocre 3-3 record and embarrassing home losses to Syracuse and Utah. Brohm may have been a top-5 pick (or even the first pick) had he come out after his junior year, but some scouts, including ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper and Scout.com, say his stock has dropped to anywhere between six and 15.

And then there’s NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt, who says, while he expects Brohm to be the first quarterback taken in April, “I feel sorry for him”.

Ouch.

The irony is Louisville’s defense has hurt Brohm’s Heisman chances, not his play: Brian is 8th nationally in passing efficiency, is 2nd in touchdown passes, and 2nd in passing yards. Of course, we learned long ago the Heisman Trophy isn’t about the best athlete in the land.