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Florida eager to get started, change 4-8 to 1-0

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — It might be hard to find a team more eager for the season to begin than Florida.

Coming off their worst year since 1979, the Gators are ready to start anew, end a seven-game losing streak and prove last year’s 4-8 debacle was a fluke.

Florida opens Saturday against six-touchdown underdog Idaho, which has just four wins over the last three years.

“Everybody starts out the season undefeated, so I think it’s a good chance to start fresh and really showcase all we’ve done throughout the spring and summer,” quarterback Jeff Driskel said Tuesday. “We’ve done some good things. We just have to carry them over to the games. … There’s a lot of excitement around our program right now.”

Florida figures things have to be better than last season’s injury-filled meltdown.

The Gators lost Driskel in the third game of the season with a broken leg and were unprepared to play without him. Making matters worse, the team also lost defensive tackle Dominique Easley, receiver Andre Debose, running back Matt Jones, right tackle Chaz Green and several others to season-ending injuries.

The injuries led to losses — including a humbling one to lower-division Georgia Southern — which led to lost confidence inside the locker room, which led to finger pointing, which led to the dismissal of offensive coordinator Brent Pease and offensive line coach Tim Davis.

The personnel changes led coach Will Muschamp to hire Duke offensive coordinator Kurt Roper and USC offensive line coach Mike Summers. Roper and Summers revamped Florida’s offense, which combined with Driskel’s return, has created optimism for 2014.

“We’re more talented, that’s No. 1,” Muschamp said. “We could line up and run the run-and-shoot for all I care. We’re more talented. We are more talented at running back then we’ve been. We’re more talented at receiver. We’re more talented at tight end. We’re better up front. And we’re better at the quarterback position.

“It starts with talent … and then I like what we’re doing schematically.”

Florida has switched from a ground-and-pound, pro-style system to an up-tempo, spread scheme. The Gators scored 25 touchdowns in 12 games last season, averaging a paltry 18.8 points, and were far from what Florida’s faithful had grown accustomed to with former coaches Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer on the sideline.

How the revamped offense performs could determine Muschamp’s fate.

The first-time head coach is 22-16 in four seasons at Florida, creating doubt about his future and the direction of the program. Even Muschamp has refused to blame last year’s failures solely on injuries.

Florida’s last win came against Arkansas in early October, so it’s been nearly 11 months without a victory celebration.

“Too long,” linebacker Mike Taylor conceded.

That should change Saturday. Idaho has been routed by nearly every major program its played in recent years, losing at Florida State (80-14), at Mississippi (59-14) and at Washington State (42-0) last year, getting blown out at LSU (63-14) and at North Carolina (66-0) in 2012 and falling 37-7 at Texas A&M in 2011.

Florida would like to be next so it can end the losing streak and start talking about 1-0 instead of 4-8.

“The seven-game losing streak was definitely tough to bear, to have to play through and witness,” Taylor said. “Getting a win will definitely help the whole feeling around the stadium. … We’re definitely excited to get this thing started, the whole campus is excited, coaches excited, players excited, so we’re definitely ready to showcase our talent.”

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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