Skip to main content

No. 1 Florida State breezes past Citadel 37-12

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston had no problem getting the ball to just about everyone.

It was a sign that the top-ranked Seminoles (2-0) may be ready to put to rest some of the questions about their youth. They had 10 different players catch a pass and seven had a rush in a 37-12 rout of lower-tier FCS opponent The Citadel on Saturday.

Winston threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, and the 18th consecutive win set a FSU school record. It was a contrast to last week, when Florida State force-fed the ball to seniors Karlos Williams and Rashad Greene.

“In our offense, we may call it somewhere, but it doesn’t have to go there,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. “We don’t force the ball. That’s what we’ve got to have, diversity around the board. Guys can catch it and run it. The quicker those young guys developing, the better we’re going to be.”

Winston completed 22 of 27 passes and the offense scored touchdowns on all four first-half drives and field goals on his two third-quarter drives. The Heisman winner sat down with a 34-0 lead.

The Citadel quarterback Aaron Miller completed 3 of 11 passes for 46 yards and a touchdown and ran for 61 yards. The Bulldogs (0-2) had eight rushers carry in their triple-option offense and the ground game accounted for 250 of the team’s 322 offensive yards.

“It was loud, very loud,” Miller said. “My offensive line, the first plays, they told me they can’t hear me. I’m yelling at the top of my lungs and I’m figuring I’m not going to have a voice by halftime.”

The Florida State offense was able to drive up and down the field with little resistance while its starters were on the field.

In the choppy season-opening win against Oklahoma State, Winston seemed to force the ball to receiver Greene, who finished with 203 yards on 11 receptions. Williams was one of just two running backs to carry the ball against the Cowboys, and had 23 of the team’s 31 rushes.

“I’m comfortable with everybody, because that’s how this offense is,” Winston said. “We try to give everybody the ball and a lot of people had touches this game. That’s how Coach Fisher does things.

“It’s not a one man show, everyone’s going to get that rock.”

Fisher said Winston tried to force some big plays last week, but he was patient against the Bulldogs. Williams and running backs Mario Pender and Freddie Stevenson had six combined receptions for 46 yards.

All-ACC tight end Nick O’Leary was supposed to ease the losses of 2013 receivers Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw, but was also limited last week. He caught a team-high five balls for 51 yards and a touchdown Saturday. He dropped what would have been another score.

The Seminoles welcomed back receiver Jesus “Bobo” Wilson from a one-game suspension stemming from the theft of a motor scooter. He scored his first career touchdown on a 12-yard, first-quarter reception.

Freshman running back Dalvin Cook, the 2013 Florida Mr. Football, scored his first career touchdown in his first game with a 5-yard run in the second quarter.

“They have depth, speed, size, everything,” Citadel coach Mike Houston said. “Not (any weaknesses) from our angle. That’s the best football team we’ve ever faced.”

The Florida State starting defense pitched a shutout, but lost three defensive linemen in the process. Starting defensive tackle Eddie Goldman went down during the first series of the game and his replacement, sophomore Justin Shanks went down in the second series. Starting nose guard Nile Lawrence-Stample was injured in the second quarter. All three were lost for the game with lower leg injuries and Goldman was seen on crutches and wearing a boot on his left foot after the game.

“I don’t know how bad the injuries are,” Fisher said. “When you play these kind of teams, they are constantly cutting knees and ankles. … Nothing illegal about it, that’s just football.”

The Seminoles were already thin on the interior of the defensive line with defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan now playing for the Baltimore Ravens. There are seven freshmen defensive linemen on the roster.

The Seminoles host Clemson on Sept. 20, the same day Citadel travels to Charleston Southern.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote