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Purdue picks Etling over Appleby as starting QB

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — Purdue quarterback Danny Etling spent the offseason getting stronger, smarter and sharper.

It was just enough to keep his job.

On Monday, coach Darrell Hazell announced Etling would start the Boilermakers’ Aug. 30 season opener against Western Michigan after fending off two challengers in a closer than expected three-man quarterback derby. Sophomore Austin Appleby is likely to back up Etling for the second straight year and highly-touted freshman David Blough could wind up redshirting.

“They both played well the last two weeks,” Hazell said, referring to Etling and Appleby. “I think the difference was that he (Etling) was a little bit ahead coming out of the spring, but I thought Austin did a great job of closing that gap.”

Etling, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound sophomore, started the final seven games last season and finished 149 of 267 for 1,690 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Despite being the incumbent, Etling knew what he was up against at a school dubbed the Cradle of Quarterbacks — a sophomore eager to take his job away and a hot-shot freshman from Texas who rekindled memories in Boilermakers fans of another former Purdue quarterback from Texas, Drew Brees.

So the Terre Haute, Indiana, native continued improving his game.

After producing his three best performances in the final three games of 2013, Etling added 30 pounds to his slender frame, worked relentlessly in the film room and on timing with his receivers, improved his accuracy and toned down his exuberance.

He came back a noticeably different player. As the most experienced quarterback in camp, he looked confident and comfortable in practice, outplaying his challengers and eventually winning the job in part because he executed the offense with more precision and efficiency.

“I can diagnose things so much quicker with pre-snap looks and see what they’re trying to take away,” he said.

Even Hazell sees a noticeable change.

“They’re light years ahead of last year,” the second-year coach said. “Those guys worked extremely hard in the classroom. Now the calls just roll off their tongues before it (a play) even happens.”

A year ago, Hazell named fifth-year senior Rob Henry the starter during preseason camp, then turned to Etling just four games into the season. He held onto the job the rest of the season despite going 0-7 as the starter. Purdue was a dismal 1-11 and was one touchdown away from a winless season.

Now the roles are reversed.

If Blough redshirts and the Boilermakers struggle early, Hazell would likely go with the 6-5, 229-pound sophomore from Ohio. Appleby didn’t play last season but insisted Monday that rather than worry about transferring, he’s intent on winning the competition with Etling.

“I’m here for a reason and that’s to win a championship with this team,” a disappointed Appleby said. “All I can do is be the hardest worker on this team, the hardest-working quarterback in the country. I’m 100 percent sure I’ll get my opportunity, and I’m going to be ready when I do.”

Hazell said the coaching staff would like to use a redshirt year on the 6-1, 195-pound Blough, who emerged as one of the nation’s top prep players during the 2013 Elite 11 camp, if the Boilermakers figure out how to fill his holding responsibilities. Blough is currently the No. 3 holder on the depth chart.

But Etling isn’t satisfied with winning Round 1 of the quarterback challenge.

He knows he must start winning some games, too.

“You never want to look over your shoulder because I know we have very, very capable quarterbacks in the room. I want to continue pushing myself,” Etling said. “It’s a little bit different (this year) because you’re not just getting thrown into a game. I think it’s good win the job and show the team that you won the job.”

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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