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Towles chosen to be Kentucky’s starting QB

By WTOP Staff

GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has named redshirt sophomore Patrick Towles as the Wildcats’ starting quarterback, addressing the team’s biggest question since last spring.

Stoops first tweeted out his decision before Monday morning’s practice, then said afterward, “Truth is, he won the job. It was close. He just won out over the other quarterbacks.”

The 6-foot-5, 238-pound Towles was redshirted last season after playing five games as a freshman but came back this spring to become the favorite to lead Kentucky’s pass-oriented “Air Raid” offense. The Fort Thomas native still had to beat out freshman Drew Barker, redshirt freshman Reese Phillips and junior Maxwell Smith in fall camp and just last week coaches were expressing hope that one would distinguish himself.

Stoops ultimately chose Towles, who arrived to much fanfare as the state’s Mr. Football and high expectations of even starting quickly because of his ability to throw deep. While injuries to Smith pressed him into action, issues with Towles’ mechanics eventually left him out of the mix.

Towles worked hard to correct them and his improvement showed in Kentucky’s spring game as he completed 9 of 10 passes for 110 yards. His improvement has continued throughout camp including Monday’s workout, when he unleashed several long passes and put zip on his short attempts.

There were also mistakes as expected, but Towles appeared to play more confidently. Being told before practice that he would be the starter probably had a lot to do with his demeanor, though Stoops joked that he briefly led Towles to believe he wasn’t the choice before quickly saying the job was his.

Towles wasn’t available to the media after practice but Stoops said in considering all his quarterbacks’ qualities that Towles continually stood above his competitors.

“We looked at everything through the spring and fall and I can’t say it’s one thing” that helped Towles, said Stoops, who wouldn’t name a backup. “They each do some good things and I have confidence in all of them. Patrick’s done a very good job.”

Stoops and offensive coordinator Neal Brown praised Towles’ determination to bounce back after being the odd man out last season. Rather than complain or lose confidence, he worked hard to get back into the quarterback discussion and eventually established himself as the front-runner.

“He just looked himself in the mirror,” Brown said.

Stoops’ announcement means the Wildcats will enter the Aug. 30 season opener against Tennessee-Martin with their third different starting QB in as many years. Jalen Whitlow and Smith alternated last year’s opener against Western Kentucky and several more times during the season before Smith sustained a shoulder injury that required offseason surgery and kept him out of spring drills.

Smith started the 2012 opener before sustaining an ankle injury against South Carolina that ultimately ended his season and opened the door for Whitlow, who has transferred to Eastern Illinois.

Towles’ mission now is using size and big arm to inject life into the Wildcats’ passing game as they try to rebound from back-to-back 2-10 seasons and end a 16-game SEC losing streak.

Kentucky averaged just 193 yards per game through the air last season to rank 10th of 14 Southeastern Conference teams. The Wildcats were next to last in total offense (341.3 yards).

While Towles’ impact remains to be seen, Stoops said naming the starter now demonstrates how far he has come and will help the offensive preparation before the opener. The coach said he’s not relieved about finally deciding on a starter but added that he’s glad to be able to move on from the subject that hung over him and the team.

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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