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Buckeyes looking for pick-me-up against Kent State

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Urban Meyer figures the mourning period better be over for his Ohio State Buckeyes.

After all, it’s not like he can shield the team from what’s being said about them.

“You’d love to just go move them off to a desert island somewhere and coach a team and not worry about social media” and other critics and doubters, Meyer said. “Yeah, those are concerns.”

Seven days after a devastating 35-21 loss at home to Virginia Tech, the 22nd-ranked Buckeyes take a step toward putting that defeat behind them when they host Kent State on Saturday.

Here are some things to watch as the Golden Flashes and Buckeyes square off:

NOT HAPPY: No. 22 Ohio State had won its first 25 regular-season games under Meyer and hadn’t lost at home since 2011. But that didn’t mean there weren’t a lot of callers to sports-talk radio and people on Ohio State-related websites grousing about the defeat.

Some said the Buckeyes (1-1), who have lost three of their last four including the Big Ten title game and Orange Bowl to end last season, are slipping.

“Absolutely not. We know what we’ve got here, we know the mindset of our players, we know how much they care about this program,” running backs coach Stan Drayton said. “We know the commitment that both the coaching staff and the players have to having success here. Absolutely not.”

LOST CONFIDENCE: The Buckeyes are hoping they can regain their swagger.

“I wouldn’t say we lost our luster. Stuff just happened,” safety Tyvis Powell said. “These couple of games that we lost, it’s only been a few plays. A couple mental errors here and there have cost us big. Do we still play with a chip on our shoulder? I would say yeah. We’re still the big (team) to beat in the Big Ten. We have to prove why we still are if not the best, one of the best teams in the Big Ten, if not in the country.”

BAD TIMING: The Golden Flashes (0-2) are trying to build a program under second-year coach Paul Haynes, a former Ohio State assistant.

The Buckeyes’ loss couldn’t come at a worse time for his team.

“They’ve got talent oozing out everywhere. And they play tough, hard-nosed, sound football,” Hayes said. “After a tough loss like that, they’re going to come back even more refocused.”

But Meyer expects the Golden Flashes to make the most of their big moment in the spotlight.

“Those kids are going to be a hungry group because this is their chance to play in front of 110,000,” he said.

BACKFIELD NOT IN MOTION: Virginia Tech’s “double-eagle” defense packed eight or nine defenders on the line, shutting down the run and forcing the Buckeyes to pass. When Ohio State couldn’t do that, the game belonged to the Hokies.

They limited the Buckeyes to just 108 yards on the ground.

TB Ezekiel Elliott expects other teams — possibly even Kent State — to try the same defense.

“After everyone saw Virginia Tech play us that way, it’s hard to say they’re not going to keep trying it,” he said.

SLOW STARTS: Ohio State has gotten off to slow starts in its past few games, dating back to the stretch run a year ago. So has Kent State.

Haynes knows his team can’t afford to show up 15 minutes late on Saturday.

“In games like this, when it’s 28-0 before the balloons are leaving the stadium it’s just tough to come back,” he said.

___

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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