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Daxx Garman could get the call for Oklahoma State

By WTOP Staff

JOHN TRANCHINA
Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — Daxx Garman could be making his first start at quarterback since his junior year of high school.

With J.W. Walsh reportedly having surgery this week and out for an extended period, Garman could be running Oklahoma State’s offense for the foreseeable future. If so, his first chance comes Saturday when UTSA (1-1) visits Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday.

When he entered the game last weekend late in the first quarter for the injured Walsh, Garman was making his first game appearance in five years and looked impressive. He completed 16-of-26 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Cowboys (1-1) to a 40-23 victory over Missouri State.

And while he wasn’t perfect by any means, Garman set OSU records for yardage and completions by a debut quarterback — surpassing marks set by current coach Mike Gundy in 1986 and Walsh in 2012.

“He played fairly well, he made some mistakes,” Gundy said. “We’d like to have some throws back, I’m sure he would. For the most part, it’s never like what people think it is until you step out there and play. I think he handled himself well, I think the team felt comfortable with him in the game.”

That isn’t the best of news for UTSA, which is coming off a 26-23 loss at home to Arizona last weekend. It was a roller-coaster game for the Roadrunners, who fell behind 10-0 in the first five minutes, rebounded to take a 16-13 lead just before halftime. After Arizona regained the lead and led 26-16 in the fourth quarter before a late comeback fell short.

“It was a disappointing loss for us, but I’m really proud of our team, they fought hard,” said UTSA coach Larry Coker. “They responded and could have given up a couple of times and never did”

Things to watch Saturday:

START ME UP: Garman’s last start was for Jones High School, just outside Oklahoma City, in 2009. After moving to the Dallas suburbs the following year, he was ruled ineligible to play for Southlake Carroll his senior season. He then enrolled at Arizona, where he red-shirted in 2011, before transferring to OSU. The NCAA made him sit out a mandatory year (2012) before he returned as a backup last season.

QUICK SUCCESS: UTSA football is in just its fourth season. Coker started it from scratch in 2011 and has built it quickly. After going 4-6 that first season with mostly freshmen and sophomores, the Roadrunners have gone 8-4 and 7-5 since, ending last season on a five-game winning streak.

FOLLOW THY SHEPERD: Cowboys junior receiver Brandon Sheperd enjoyed a big day last weekend against Missouri State. He had four receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown, matching or setting career-high totals. “It’s progressively gotten better for him. He’s really improved from the understanding of the game and still continues to do so,” said offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich.

STUDENT VS. MENTOR: Coker served as Oklahoma State’s offensive coordinator for seven seasons, including all four while Gundy was the school’s quarterback from 1986-89. Gundy considers him one of his mentors. “He’s always been a very special part of our family,” said Gundy, who defeated Coker in their first meeting last season when the Cowboys beat UTSA 56-35.

YOUTH IS SERVED: After losing 32 letter-winners off last season’s 10-3 squad, Oklahoma State has one of the youngest teams in the nation, tying Tulane with 32 freshmen and sophomores on its season-opening roster. No less than 10 Cowboys, including seven on defense, made their first college starts in their opening-day 37-31 loss to No. 1 Florida State.

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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