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No word from Andersen on Wisconsin QB for LSU

By WTOP Staff

JIM HOEHN
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen is staying quiet when it comes to his quarterback for Saturday’s season opener against No. 13 LSU, while at least one of his best players says Tanner McEvoy will get the start for the 14th-ranked Badgers.

“At the end of the day, we’re right where we were,” Andersen said Monday. “We’ve got two quarterbacks that I think are going to help this football team throughout the year. And, whoever takes the first snap doesn’t necessarily say he’s going to be the guy for the whole season. We’ve got two kids who want to compete and will continue to compete and that’s where we’re going to stay with it.”

When standout running back Melvin Gordon was asked about the quarterback situation, he said McEvoy would start the first game over incumbent Joel Stave.

“I think Joel’s a great player, people definitely overlook him,” Gordon said. “But, even though Tanner was named the starter, I think Joel will continue to work and wait for his chance.”

He added: “They’re going with Tanner. Obviously I hope Tanner plays well and I wish the best for Tanner and I hope he can lead our team.”

Stave started all 13 games last season, passing for 2,494 yards and 22 touchdowns, second-most in school history behind Seattle Seahawks star Russell Wilson. But he also threw 13 interceptions and had a penchant for missing open receivers as the Badgers finished 9-4, including a 34-24 loss to South Carolina in the Capital One Bowl.

The more mobile McEvoy, who passed for 1,943 yards and 25 touchdowns and rushed for 414 yards and six touchdowns at Arizona Western College in 2012, struggled last fall during the Badgers’ quarterback competition. He eventually moved to wide receiver and then safety for the final 10 games, including three starts.

With a full year in the system, however, McEvoy has shown significant improvement, said Andersen, who prefers a versatile quarterback.

“Obviously, we feel like he’s throwing the ball much better to even be in the QB race,” Andersen said. “He would have to be solid and consistent throwing the football. But the biggest thing for Tanner is the growth within the offense.”

Andersen does not equate McEvoy’s lack of playing time at quarterback with lack of experience.

“The one thing I would say is he has played in big-time games,” Andersen said. “He’s been a starter at free safety, which is the quarterback of our defense. He has a lot of alignment issues, it’s very technical back there. There’s a ton of communication that has to take place. So he’s been in that moment. He’s prepared to play in Big Ten games. He’s prepared to play in a bowl game.”

Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Badgers will rely heavily on a running game powered by Gordon, who rushed for 1,609 yards last season as a sophomore.

“We want to run the ball first,” Andersen said. “We want to take some shots with our play action. Our goal is to obviously be a physical, power football team that gets in the fourth quarter and ultimately tries to wear people down and ground it, pound it. That will never change.”

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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