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Georgia, Clemson look to make early splash

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — College football’s inaugural playoff is more than four months away.

Still, it’s never too early to start impressing the selection committee.

For No. 12 Georgia and No. 16 Clemson, that opportunity comes the very first week of the season.

In a game that looks a bit like the Iowa caucuses during a presidential election year, two powerhouse teams about 80 miles apart will try to establish themselves as championship contenders before the calendar flips to September.

“You always want to (win) the beauty contest,” Georgia cornerback Damian Swann said Tuesday. “That will be a help later on down the line.”

While the possible playoff ramifications won’t be known for months, everyone seems thrilled that a four-team postseason is finally a reality. There will be semifinals at the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day, followed by the national championship game in suburban Dallas on Jan. 12.

“I’m very excited,” Bulldogs receiver Michael Bennett said. “It’s just a matter of getting into that top four. It sounds so easy,” he added, chuckling. “I guess it is easier than getting into the top two. It’s real cool. I like it.”

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney doesn’t even want to talk about the playoff. He certainly doesn’t want to put too much emphasis on the very first game of the season.

“God forbid we go down there and lose the game,” he said. “But if we do, Georgia’s not in the playoffs and we’re not out of it. It’s a long season, it’s a long way to go. And vice versa, if we win the game, let’s not punch our ticket to Dallas just yet. We’ve got a long way to go in a long season. Every game is critical.”

There’s no denying this game is especially important for Georgia, which follows up its home opener with a road trip two weeks later to No. 9 South Carolina.

An 0-2 start would not ruin all of the Bulldogs’ goals — just three years ago, they reached the Southeastern Conference title game after losing their first two — but it might be impossible to get back in the mix for the playoff.

“I can’t imagine the AP poll and the coaches poll won’t have some effect on the panel,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “I’m sure that will have some kind of weight, even though it’s not part of the formula. Humans look at those things.”

To have any chance of playing for the national title, Georgia must do better against the tougher teams on its schedule. Over the last five years, the Bulldogs are 7-15 against ranked teams.

“That’s why you come to a program like this,” Swann said. “If guys wanted to play small-time schools and get stat games, that’s kind of where you need to go. When you come to an elite program like Georgia, what we have here, you always want to compete against the best.”

In recent seasons, Georgia has top-loaded its schedule with some of its most difficult games. In addition to the traditional SEC opener against South Carolina, the Bulldogs have played non-conference contests against Oklahoma State, Boise State and Clemson. Only once in the last five years have they opened the season with two straight wins.

“I think it kind of shows the character of your team right off the bat,” Bennett said. “We haven’t done a really good job lately in the big games at the beginning of the season. It’s time we kind of change that streak. We definitely need to get the season started off on the right foot.”

Both teams have changed significantly since they opened last season in Death Valley, where Clemson knocked off the Bulldogs 38-35 in a thrilling matchup of Top 10-ranked teams.

The Tiger are replacing offensive stars Sammy Watkins and Tajh Boyd. Georgia lost record-breaking quarterback Aaron Murray and has a new defensive coordinator, Jeremy Pruitt, who comes from national champion Florida State.

“His resume speaks for itself,” Swann said. “He’s a winner. He knows what winning feels like.”

A year ago, the Seminoles went 14-0 on the way to finishing No. 1.

An unbeaten record is the best way to ensure a spot in the playoff.

“Every game is real important,” Bennett said.

___

AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli in Clemson, South Carolina contributed to this report.

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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