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Swinney says Clemson won’t slow down

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

SUNSET, S.C. (AP) — Clemson’s not slowing down, even without the offensive stars that made them go in receiver Sammy Watkins and quarterback Tajh Boyd.

Tigers coach Dabo Swinney said Tuesday his team won’t ease up on the attack that averaged better than 40 points and 500 yards for a second straight. Of course, he won’t have Watkins and Boyd, the high-performance duo who took center stage as Clemson went 32-8 and won the 2011 Atlantic Coast Conference championship during their three seasons as starters.

Watkins left school a season early and was picked No. 4 overall by the Buffalo Bills while Boyd was taken in the sixth round by the New York Jets this past May — opening up two very high-profile spots on last year’s eighth-ranked Tigers.

For those returning, the message is clear, says offensive coordinator Chad Morris: “To prove that we weren’t a two-man show.”

That question should linger into the season opener at Georgia on Aug. 30.

Cole Stoudt, a senior and son of NFL passer Cliff Stoudt, won the quarterback job in the spring, helped by both an injury to rising freshman DeShaun Watson and the spring game sideline meltdown and subsequent dismissal of Chad Kelly.

Swinney said Watson, who set Georgia state high school records with 17,134 yards and 218 touchdowns, is healthy and pushing for playing time. Swinney and Morris say they knew since Watson’s first practice with the Tigers he would get playing time, just when and how much are the questions.

Morris is high on Stoudt, who performed ably in mop up duty and the few times Boyd came out with injuries.

“Cole, we’re excited about you,” Morris said. “Now it’s time to go out and win some ballgames.”

Swinney recalls the last time he faced this situation after Kyle Parker left to play Major League Baseball after the 2010 season and he was left with untested redshirt sophomore Boyd and freshman Stoudt as the main backup.

“I can promise you I’m sleeping a lot better with this situation,” Swinney said.

Stoudt will have several big targets to throw to, just not those Tiger fans had been used to watching the past several years. Along with Watkins leaving early, 6-foot-5 Martavis Bryant also gave up his senior season for the pros. Bryant was second on the team with 42 catches for seven touchdowns.

The receiver spot starts with the return of Charone Peake, considered Watkins equal when the two arrived in 2011 but who missed all but two games with a knee injury. Mike Williams will get a chance to earn a spot, but should be pushed for playing time by mid-year enrollees Artavis Scott and Demarre Kitt.

Clemson also has several capable tight ends who can catch the ball in Sam Cooper and Stanton Seckinger. Jordan Leggett, at 6-5, could be the team’s most talented player at the spot and has stepped up his work habits after a lackluster freshman season, said tight ends coach Danny Pearman.

Morris, starting his fourth season in charge of the offense, thought back to when he took the job after the 2010 season. He said people were happy here with an offense that was averaging less than four touchdowns a game.

That’s a so-so half to Morris’ way of thinking and he won’t let the fire slide simply because his old stars are gone. Swinney agrees, saying he’s developed a program the past five-and-a-half seasons that can stand the test of changing personnel.

“I think our guys are confident because we’ve built a good program and good programs can sustain themselves in through success and adversity,” he said. “You look around at the better programs and that’s what you see.”

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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