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No. 1 Florida State K Aguayo is on record pace

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State kicker Roberto Aguayo sometimes roots against the Seminoles’ offense.

The thoughts aren’t selfish, just part of a mindset that has him poised to become one of the most accomplished kickers in school history and one of the best ever in college football.

“Every kicker that’s recruited has the leg, has the power,” Aguayo said. “It’s all between the ears.

“When it’s third-and-5, I want Jameis (Winston) to get sacked to get the opportunity. You’ve got to want it. Although you want the team to score … that’s the mindset you’ve got to have.”

As a redshirt freshman, Aguayo became the third Florida State player to win the Lou Groza award that is given to the best kicker in the country. He connected on 21 of 22 field goal attempts in 2013 and is 6 for 6 in two games for the top-ranked Seminoles.

Aguayo’s 96.4 field goal percentage would be the best in college history if he had the minimum 30 attempts, according to STATS LLC,

Aguayo is a self-described perfectionist that gets the same speech from coach Jimbo Fisher given to Florida State’s Heisman -winning quarterback: Don’t get bored. Both had unprecedented success as freshmen as success came quickly. Fisher doesn’t want either to grow complacent.

Aguayo isn’t worried.

He tweaked with his mechanics on field goals during the spring to more closely resemble the majority of NFL kickers. It was an attempt to hit the ball cleaner and more pure every single time. Suddenly, the ball began floating left and right. The experiment ended then.

“I went back to what I do,” Aguayo said. “It’s working for me, why change if it ain’t broke.

“Every kicker’s different. I might look different, but at the end of the day as long as it goes between the two pipes, no one really cares how you get it in there.”

Fisher said Aguayo has a “supreme confidence” and developed mentally as a freshman behind Dustin Hopkins, the FSU career leader with 88 field goals. The Seminoles set an FBS record for points scored in 2013 and Aguayo set the NCAA single-season record for kickers with 157 of those points.

Fisher acknowledged the luxury.

“You know when you get certain distance, down where his comfort range is … it does sometimes let you be more aggressive and take chances,” Fisher said, “and not have to make sure, hey, I’ve (got to) make sure I get (inside) field goal range. When that range is expanded, it does help you offensively, no doubt.”

Aguayo was a Florida State fan before he stepped on campus, so he knew the history of FSU kickers — the good and bad. Sebastian Janikowski is the only two-time winner of the Groza award (1998-99). Graham Gano won it in 2008. Missed field goals against Miami in 1991, 1992 and 2000 may have cost the school additional titles.

Aguayo also knows Tulane’s Cairo Santos was a perfect 21 for 21 on field goals in 2012. Previously, North Carolina State’s Marc Primanti was 20 for 20 in 1996.

“It’s possible,” Aguayo said of perfection. “If he can do it, why can’t I do it? … That’s my job. I’m supposed to be 6 for 6. That’s how I look at it.”

The records do “run through my mind, occasionally,” He said. “It’s in the back of my head, but I don’t really think about that. … If it happens, it happens.”

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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