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Michigan shrugs off bad memories of Appalachian St

By WTOP Staff

LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Drake Johnson will never forget it.

He was sitting in an Ann Arbor gas station in his father’s car, listening on the radio to No. 5. Michigan fighting for its life at home against a Division I-AA team. Then a player named Corey Lynch blocked Michigan’s field-goal attempt and sealed a 34-32 win for Appalachian State and one of the biggest upsets in college football history.

“I remember sitting there in silence,” Johnson recalled. “I was like, ‘Oh, no.'”

Oh yes, Appalachian State. And staring at the Wolverines atop their 2014 schedule are the Mountaineers, who are the first game this year at the Big House — just like they were back in 2007.

“It’s like the U.S. hockey team beating Russia in the Olympics,” former Appalachian State coach Jerry Moore said.

It was the first win by a second-tier program against a Top 25 team and afterward The Associated Press changed the way it conducted its poll, allowing schools from all divisions to be eligible to receive votes.

The stunner put Appalachian State on the cover of Sports Illustrated and the front page of sports sections from coast to coast — and beyond.

“The game was news everywhere, even in China,” said associate athletic director Jay Sutton, who helped the Mountaineers fill the void on Michigan’s schedule that year. “The score was announced at Major League Baseball games. We’ve always had a great school, but the Michigan win helped us showcase how good of a school we have academically and athletically.”

The Mountaineers love to recall the upset that raised awareness about their program and school in Boone, North Carolina.

“After the ballgame, pandemonium just broke out,” Moore recalled, reminiscing about a scene that included him being hoisted onto the shoulders of his players and being carried off the field. “Lloyd (Carr) and I never got to each other, both of us probably tried.”

The next day, former Michigan associate athletic director Scott Draper called Sutton to get Moore’s cellphone number for Carr. Roughly 24 hours after the coach of the 1997 national champions suffered his worst defeat, he called Moore, who was surrounded by his staff during a meeting.

“He congratulated us on the game,” Moore said. “Just class. Pure class.”

Michigan’s 2007 team was loaded offensively with NFL-caliber players Chad Henne, Jake Long, Mario Manningham and Mike Hart. Its shaky defense, however, gave up nearly 6 yards per play to a speedy, spread offense that helped Appalachian State win the previous two I-AA national championships. The Wolverines did go on to win nine games that season, including a victory over then-No. 9 Florida in the Capital One Bowl.

The Mountaineers went on to win another I-AA title.

Former Michigan athletic director Bill Martin said he was always cautious about playing a lower-division school, “but they were really good and we needed a game.”

“Our options at that point were almost none, so we scheduled the game,” he said.

And, former quarterback Armanti Edwards will always be thankful for that fact. How often is Edwards reminded of the upset by people?

“All the time. Anybody,” said Edwards, who is hoping to earn a roster spot with the Chicago Bears as a wide receiver. “When I tell them my name, they always bring up the Michigan game.”

Appalachian State, coming off a 4-8 season in Scott Satterfield’s first year as its coach, will make its debut in the Sun Belt Conference on Saturday. As for the Wolverines, they don’t want to look back at the history of this series; the rematch this weekend was scheduled three years ago.

“Our guys know about that game, and it’s the only school on the schedule this year that we have a losing record to,” said Michigan coach Brady Hoke, who was leading Ball State seven years ago. “Obviously, I wasn’t here then and neither were the 115 guys on this football team, and it won’t be the same Appalachian State team either.”

___

Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/larrylage

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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