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Byrn won’t let Hokies overlook William & Mary

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

Virginia Tech wide receiver Willie Byrn has a message for his teammates as they prepare to open their season against William & Mary: Be ready to play, or be ready to lose.

The senior has seen it happen firsthand.

Byrn was redshirting in 2010 when the then 13th-ranked Hokies hosted another FCS opponent, James Madison, just five days after playing Boise State on a Monday night. The Hokies led 16-7 before the Dukes scored twice and pulled off a stunning 21-16 upset.

“It was raining, it was cold and I think I left before the game was over just kind of naturally thinking that we would pull it out, and obviously we didn’t,” the redshirt senior said this week. “That’s a feeling that you don’t ever want to have. The younger guys, it’s easy for them being at a prestigious program to hear that and just kind of scoff at it and say ‘Yeah, that won’t happen. Don’t worry.’ But it’s our job as older guys and as leaders to make sure that they know.”

For some Hokies, concern about the opener, and focus, goes back to January. That’s when defensive tackle Luther Maddy said he overheard some teammates talking about Ohio State. The Hokies will travel to Columbus, Ohio, next weekend to take on the fifth-ranked Buckeyes.

“I quickly responded with, ‘You can’t overlook William & Mary,'” Maddy recalled. “I think a lot of guys understand.” The team’s seniors, he said, “had a team meeting for all the players and we spoke to them about our expectations for this season and we told them it all starts with William & Mary.”

A look at recent history bolsters that point.

The Tribe is entering its 35th season under Jimmye Laycock, and has made a habit of putting a scare into FBS opponents. William & Mary beat Virginia 24-16 to open the 2009 season, and held second-half leads in narrow losses against Maryland, North Carolina and West Virginia in the last four years.

“It’s a matter of having good teams and playing well and not beating yourself and putting yourself in a situation where, if they mess up a little bit, make some mistakes, then you can be in a position to take advantage of it,” Laycock said. “… You’ve got to have breaks. You’ve got to have things go your way.”

Much like the Hokies, the Tribe will arrive at Lane Stadium with a stout defense that last season was among the best at the FCS level, and with a new quarterback and some questions to answer on offense.

Texas Tech transfer Michael Brewer won the job with the Hokies, and he played in 13 games over two seasons with the Red Raiders, while the Tribe’s Steve Cluley has never started a college game.

Hokies coach Frank Beamer, entering his 28th season, and Laycock are longtime golfing buddies, and the longest-tenured head coaches at the FBS and FCS levels, respectively. They didn’t get to make their annual trip to Augusta, Georgia, this summer, Beamer said, and he knows what he’s up against.

“I think when you look at what happened at West Virginia last year, it’s tied up, going late into the ballgame,” he said. “North Carolina a couple years back, close ballgame, very close. So they play these games a lot. They’ve played well in them. They certainly have got our attention and respect.”

Brewer agrees.

“They’re an opponent that can come in and beat you at home,” he said. “That’s the mindset that we have to have going into this one.”

___

Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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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