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RB Gordon ready for criticism after Wisconsin loss

By WTOP Staff

JORDAN GODWIN
For The Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon said he can already hear the critics.

After watching a 17-point lead dissolve in dramatic fashion in No. 14 Wisconsin’s 28-24 loss to No. 13 LSU on Saturday night, Gordon said he knew what was coming.

“Obviously, people will say, ‘Wisconsin can’t win a big game,'” Gordon said. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be hearing that all year.”

Gordon had 144 yards on 16 carries but was held to just 3 yards on two carries in the pivotal fourth quarter. Wisconsin’s decision to abandon Gordon and the running game was puzzling to many, leading some to wonder if Gordon was injured.

“There was a little bit of a scenario with Melvin being ready to go at halftime, but he came out, hit the long run and seemed OK,” Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said, referring to a 63-yard run to start the second half.

That run set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Corey Clement that gave Wisconsin a 24-7 lead with 12:24 remaining.

LSU’s comeback was fueled by Wisconsin quarterback Tanner McEvoy’s fourth-quarter struggles. McEvoy said he was told he would make his first college start just before the game on Saturday night.

McEvoy completed just 8 of 24 passes for 50 yards, throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter. In McEvoy’s defense, Andersen said the offensive line played poorly.

“When you can’t protect the passer, it doesn’t matter who you throw out there,” Andersen said. “The guy was running for his life.”

In the noisy environment heavily colored purple and gold, McEvoy had to go to a clapping snap so the center could hear him.

“I made a few mental mistakes, but that happens, and it can be the difference in winning and losing,” McEvoy said. “They’ve got a great defense and we’ve got a great offense, but we’ve got to make some plays when they’re there and we didn’t.”

The Tigers trailed 24-21 when Jalen Mills intercepted McEvoy’s pass at the LSU 47 with 11:04 left. Kenny Hilliard ran for 53 yards on the ensuing drive, sprinting through a hole on the right side to finish off the improbable comeback.

The Badgers seemed to have the game in hand after Clement’s touchdown in the third. At that point, Wisconsin had a 290-136 edge in yardage.

Colby Delahoussaye kicked two field goals and Anthony Jennings threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to John Diarse to start LSU’s rally. Jennings hit Trey Quinn for a 2-point conversion to cut the deficit to three.

“They battled,” Andersen said of LSU. “They hung in there. I thought both teams fought like crazy. They made one more play than we did and won the game in the end.”

The Badgers dominated the game until the sudden turn of events in the final quarter. Wisconsin outgained LSU 182-16 on the ground in the first half and Gordon’s long run to start the third seemed to continue the momentum. Wisconsin mustered only 65 yards in the fourth quarter.

Hilliard finished with 110 yards rushing after being held to 11 in the first half. Jennings went 7 for 18 for 176 yards. He threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Travin Dural in the first half and for most of the game, it seemed as if it might be the lone highlight for LSU.

The Badgers’ defense, which lost eight starters from last season, shut down LSU’s running back trio of Hilliard, Terrance Magee and freshman Leonard Fournette. Wisconsin’s offensive line, meanwhile, was having its way with LSU.

Gordon had nine carries for 64 yards in the first quarter, including a 20-yarder to the LSU 45. On the next play, McEvoy faked another handoff to Gordon and gave it to receiver Reggie Love, who weaved to the end zone. The Badgers have led the nation in 40-plus yard runs in each of the last two seasons.

A 22-yard scramble by McEvoy set up a 51-yard field goal by Rafael Gaglianone and Wisconsin led 10-0.

LSU started a drive early in the second quarter with a false start penalty and then Travis Dickson took a short pass from Jennings and fumbled at the LSU 24. Gordon found another big hole and scored from 14 yards out with 7:36 left in the half.

Tight end DeSean Smith dropped an easy pass and Jennings badly overthrew Dural on the Tigers’ next series. Miles turned to freshman Brandon Harris for a series and that didn’t change anything — he was sacked on third down and LSU punted again.

After Clement scored, Jennings found Dural for a 44-yard gain to the Wisconsin 8. But LSU settled for a 30-yard field goal by Delahoussaye. Delahoussaye tacked on a 47-yard field goal later in the third quarter to close the gap to 24-13.

Wisconsin defensive end Konrad Zagzebski left in the first quarter with an apparent neck injury. He was taken off the field on a stretcher. Andersen had no update on Zagzebski’s condition after the game.

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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