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Irish QB Golson confident heading into camp

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

CULVER, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson is feeling calmer, more confident and just a bit more comfortable than he was in the spring, when he failed to reclaim the starting position he held before a season-long suspension.

Golson admitted to feeling a tinge of anxiety Monday as the Fighting Irish opened preseason camp at Culver Academies, a private high school about 40 miles south of South Bend. The senior from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, believes competition from sophomore Malik Zaire will better prepare him for the upcoming season.

“It kind of raises the stakes a little bit. So you can’t come out and feel comfortable one day. You need to push and keep pushing. It’s only going to let both of us get better,” he said.

Golson took every snap with the first-team offense and his passing was more precise than Zaire, who struggled at times with accuracy.

While sitting out last season after being suspended for academic impropriety, Golson spent two months in San Diego training with quarterbacks coach George Whitfield. After failing to win the starter’s job in the spring, Golson made a return trip earlier this summer where he worked out with Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty and Virginia quarterback David Watford.

“I just wanted to compete with them, see where I measure up,” Golson said. “That’s what I gained from that. Just a lot of confidence. Also just a little bit more honing in on my footwork again. It has helped me competitively.”

Coach Brian Kelly said he will name a starter whenever either shows consistency and leadership. Kelly was asked last week whether Golson was the obvious choice to star, since he was quarterback when the Irish faced Alabama in the national title game two years ago.

“I would argue that Everett rode the bus to the championship,” Kelly said.

Golson said he believes the remark was made more for the media than about him. Golson laughed when Kelly interrupted his session with the media.

“You get more reporters than I did,” Kelly said.

Golson appears more at ease both on and off the field than in 2012. He said he wasn’t sure how to act when he won the starter’s job back then.

“I didn’t really know what the coaches wanted from me. I was always thinking: ‘What do these guys want?'” he said. “Now I’m able to kind of just be out there and make plays. I’ve been with coach Kelly for four years now, so I know what he wants from this team. I know how he operates. So it’s all about me just kind of being comfortable and doing my thing.”

Kelly wants Golson to play with even more confidence.

“I think there was a time when he was a bit fearful at the quarterback position. I want to get him fearless,” Kelly said. “”If he gets to that level, It’s going to be fun and exciting to watch him play.”

Notes: Tackle Ronnie Stanley, who is expected to anchor the line, was carted off the field midway through practice. Kelly said he needed to get some intravenous fluids because of the heat. The temperature was about 80 degrees at the time. … Kelly said receiver Will Mahone is not expected to return to Notre Dame. Mahone pleaded guilty last month to four misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, assault and aggravated menacing. He originally had been charged with three felonies but those were reduced. Kelly said Mahone is looking at other options.

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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