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Brissett eager for chance to run Wolfpack offense

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jacoby Brissett knows he will face big expectations when he finally takes a snap for North Carolina State.

The Wolfpack struggled through a miserable season that included plenty of upheaval at quarterback while he sat out as a transfer from Florida. All the while, Brissett worked with the scout team as fans talked about the guy waiting in the wings to take over this fall.

“I’m just ready to go,” he said. “Nobody really puts as much pressure than I do myself. And I feel like my goals are way bigger than what people expect.”

Brissett, who has two years of eligibility remaining, takes over a team that won three games and went winless in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the first time since 1959.

He enrolled in January 2013, shortly after Dave Doeren left Northern Illinois to replace Tom O’Brien. He worked through the first spring practices as Doeren and offensive coordinator Matt Canada installed their no-huddle offense, then again this year — this time as the unquestioned starter of a young team.

“He’s not looked at as a transfer by anybody,” Canada said. “He’s been here coming into the fall a year and a half. He’s been here as long as a whole lot of people in the program. We’re a very young football team. It’s not like you bring a guy and throw him in … He’s earned everything he’s gotten with the players.”

Wolfpack fans are eager for stability at the position.

Last year Arkansas graduate transfer Brandon Mitchell won the starting job and led touchdown drives on the season’s first two possessions before breaking a on the third series. He missed two months while Colorado State transfer Pete Thomas stepped in, though Thomas was a pocket passer who did not fit Doeren’s scheme that thrives with a run-pass threat at quarterback.

The QB struggles stood out in a season filled with frustration, but Canada said Brissett fits the Wolfpack’s scheme.

“Most people are going to say, ‘Oh just do better than 3-9,'” Brissett said. “That’s not a real thing to just say. … You don’t need to be better than every team every day. You just be better than them on Saturday, and make sure what you do Monday through Friday is what’s going to make you better on Saturday.”

Brissett was one of the nation’s top prep quarterbacks when he signed with Florida — his mother, Ellicia Brown, wanted him to play at Miami — in 2011 out of Dwyer High in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

He became the first true freshman in Gators history to take his first college snap as the starter at No. 1 LSU that fall. But he ultimately lost the battle for the starting job to Jeff Driskel and decided to transfer after the 2012 season. Brissett considered West Virginia but his connection with Doeren, who recruited him while an assistant at Wisconsin, led him here.

Brown said the Florida experience “took a little bit of that spark away” from her son but also made him hungrier.

“I think that that he wasn’t given a fair opportunity and I think he probably felt that way too,” she said. “But by the same token, it was a learning experience on how he had to get through it. I think he came through it with flying colors.

“I think he handled it by not speaking out or even lashing out or anything. He went out and worked every day … and I see that with that experience has brought a more talented, more mature and a better Jacoby.”

Brissett said his time at Florida helped him learn how to be a leader and provided a taste of the college game at a high level. He is counting on those experiences to help him turn his second college stop into a winner, starting Aug. 30 against Georgia Southern.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “It’s close, but not close enough.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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