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Notre Dame will count on freshmen on defense

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly expects some teeth-gnashing while watching the Fighting Irish defense this fall.

The 17th-ranked Irish already were expected to be young on defense in the season opener against Rice on Saturday. That’s before learning they’d be without four players, three of them on defense, who are under investigation by the university to determine whether they received improper assistance from others on papers and homework.

Kelly confirmed Tuesday that cornerback KeiVarae Russell, leading returning receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive end Ishaq Williams and backup linebacker Kendall Moore will not play Saturday, saying he hasn’t received any update into the investigation announced publicly by the university on Aug. 15.

When it comes to an academic process involving the honor code, it’s out of his hands, Kelly said. That was the case when quarterback Everett Golson was suspended from the university last fall for academic impropriety.

“It does me no good to put a timetable on it. It does me no good to think about what day. I’ve moved on and the process will take care of itself,” he said.

The four remained on the roster handed out Tuesday but were not included on a depth chart that had six freshmen and six sophomores on the two-deep on defense.

Andrew Trumbetti could become the first true freshman to start a season-opener on the defensive line for Notre Dame since Anthony Weaver in 1998, although Trumbetti officially was listed as the backup Tuesday.

“There’s a guy that’s going to be on the edge of our defense that’s going to play a lot of football for us. We’re going to have to count on him to play very well for us,” Kelly said.

Kelly also listed defensive linemen Jhonny Williams and Grant Blankenship and linebackers Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini as players the Irish will rely on.

“So there are five freshmen right there that are going to have to play some form of winning football for us immediately for us to have the kind of success that we want defensively,” Kelly said.

The Irish have ranked in the top 50 in total defense four straight years under Kelly, but are switching to a more aggressive style under new defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder after Bob Diaco left to become head coach at Connecticut.

VanGorder paused last week when asked what it would take for Notre Dame to have a successful defense. He answered that he thinks the Irish have a “developmental defense.”

“Maybe the best answer to that is, let’s keep getting better as we go through the year. We have a lot of work to do. The players know it. But let’s keep improving. Let’s keep working. I don’t know where we are right now. The one thing I do know is there’s a lot better football in front of us,” he said.

Kelly said although the Irish are young, he believes they have gifted athletes. Asked Tuesday what could be done to help the defense, Kelly quickly responded: “Score a lot of points. That will ease everybody’s concern.”

NOTES: Corey Robinson is listed as the starter despite having surgery Friday to put a pin in a fractured thumb. Kelly said he was at practice Monday catching passes. … Kelly said he hasn’t made a decision yet on captains. … Kelly said the team will sing the alma mater after all home games this season. Some fans were upset last season when the Irish didn’t stay on the field for the song after losing to Oklahoma.

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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