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Cobb carries Minnesota past Middle Tennessee 35-24

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — David Cobb had 29 carries for two touchdowns and a career-high 220 yards, the most for the program in nine years, and Minnesota outlasted Middle Tennessee for a 35-24 victory on Saturday.

Donnell Kirkwood also had a first-quarter touchdown run for the Golden Gophers (2-0), who rushed for 284 yards.

Reggie Whatley scored twice for the Blue Raiders (1-1) while rushing for 84 yards on 14 attempts, but despite 255 yards passing Austin Grammer was picked off three times. Jalen Myrick returned one for a score.

Mitch Leidner threw a pretty 27-yard touchdown pass to tight end Maxx Williams in the second quarter immediately after Damien Wilson’s interception for the Gophers, but he completed just 5 of 11 passes for 67 yards and was picked off in the end zone right before halftime.

Leidner walked gingerly off the field at the end of a drive early in the fourth quarter and had his left knee examined on the sideline. Leidner was walking back and forth without trouble after that, but with the Gophers holding an 18-point lead freshman Chris Streveler took over at quarterback.

With Cobb rumbling through the line, deftly reading the defense and breaking tackles down the field, another uneven passing performance didn’t affect the Gophers. Cobb was the first 200-yard rusher for the Gophers since Amir Pinnix on Nov. 12, 2005, against Michigan State. Cobb’s total was the highest since Laurence Maroney rushed for 258 yards against Wisconsin on Oct. 15, 2005.

Cobb was quiet in the opener against FCS opponent Eastern Illinois, but he took a big step — several quick ones, actually — toward the 1,200 yards he totaled last season. With the senior Kirkwood, bruiser Rodrick Williams and flashy freshman Berkley Edwards, the Gophers have a deep, talented backfield. But this is Cobb’s show, and the senior from Killeen, Texas, is just getting going with eight career starts.

The Blue Raiders were the last team to lose to the Gophers under previous head coach Tim Brewster, 24-17 in the 2010 opener in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, but they had the lead for much of that game.

Not on this afternoon, when the Gophers built a 28-0 lead late in the second quarter.

With seven starters on offense gone from a team that went 8-5 last year, the Blue Raiders have some work to do. Grammer threw some wobbly passes, and he faced plenty of pressure in the pocket. A couple of his on-target throws were dropped. But the sophomore, who made his first career start in a 61-7 win over FCS foe Savannah State last week, found a rhythm in the second half while the Blue Raiders were trying to catch up.

Some long runs by Whatley and Jordan Parker helped, too, against a Gophers defense that didn’t give them anything before the intermission. Grammer threw a touchdown pass to Marcus Henry to make the score more respectable late in the game.

The Blue Raiders, in their ninth season under head coach Rick Stockstill, fell to 0-5 against Big Ten teams.

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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