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Beamer Ball jumps back into national spotlight

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Frank Beamer believes it’s too soon to declare that Virginia Tech is back in the national title picture.

Still, in time, Saturday night’s stunning 35-21 upset of No. 8 Ohio State might just mean that Beamer Ball has returned to the spotlight.

“We have to build on this win, go back and learn from it,” Beamer said in the crush after the win. “Then be better next week. And if we do that, I think we’ll get to be a national team — if we’re not right now.”

They sure looked like one in primetime.

Before crowd of 107,517 at Ohio Stadium — the largest ever — Michael Brewer threw two touchdown passes and was cool and calm against Ohio State’s aggressive defense.

Coordinator Bud Foster’s unit sacked Ohio State freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett seven times and picked off three passes — two by Kyshoen Jarrett and another, returned 63 yards for a touchdown in the final minute, by Donovan Riley.

“We’re not going to let you get anything cheap,” Jarrett said. “We’re going to keep the pressure on and earn what you get.”

That’s pretty much the definition of Beamer Ball, a meld of kick-blocking special teams, defense that forces the issue and offense that plays smart and hangs on to the ball.

The Hokies (2-0) built a 21-7 halftime lead only to watch the Buckeyes (1-1) come back to tie it on Ezekiel Elliott’s 15-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

But that’s when Tech really showed its grit.

The Hokies took over on their own 35 after Ohio State’s kickoff after the tying TD went out of bounds.

Deon Newsome went 22 yards on an end around and Rogers gained 17 more on a reverse on which he faked a pass and then picked his way downfield.

On second and goal from the 10, Brewer fired a low, hard pass to the outside for Bucky Hodges to put Virginia Tech up 28-21 with 8:44 left.

“They made the plays when they needed to,” Ohio State safety Vonn Bell said of the Hokies.

Buckeyes defensive lineman Adolphus Washington said it was a tidal wave that came out of Blacksburg, Va.

“Virginia Tech had a roll going from the beginning and it was hard for us to stop them,” he said. “They had a lot of things going.”

J.T. Barrett, Ohio State’s freshman starting quarterback, had played well in last week’s come-from-behind, 34-17 win over Navy. For at least a week, he made Ohio State’s faithful forget about the loss of two-time Big Ten player of the year Braxton Miller, lost for the season after shoulder surgery.

But the Hokies defense was all over him.

After Tech took the late lead, Jarrett picked off his second interception of the game and then, with less than a minute left, Riley stepped in front of a Barrett throw and raced right in front of the Ohio State bench down the right sideline for the clinching score.

Brewer, meanwhile, handled heavy pressure all day while moving the chains. He was 23-of-36 for 199 yards and the two scores with two interceptions.

“He’s tough,” said fullback Sam Rogers said. “I have complete trust in him.”

After the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Hokies ran to their small section of enthusiastic fans near the closed end of the stadium, smiling, waving and hugging everyone they met.

“Like I told you during the week, I don’t like it when (the stadium) is half empty and no one cares,” Beamer said in the afterglow of the win. “I think our players like this environment.”

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP

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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