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Hawkeyes set to host rival Cyclones

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Coaches Kirk Ferentz and Paul Rhoads typically avoid discussing the adversarial aspects of the Iowa-Iowa State series.

Hawkeyes linebacker Quinton Alston was in no mood for diplomacy.

“They don’t like us. We don’t like them,” Alston said Tuesday.

Those words captured the true nature of a rivalry that grips the state every year.

The 62nd edition of this matchup will feature the undefeated Hawkeyes (2-0) against winless Iowa State (0-2). But the Cyclones might have played better in losing to No. 19 Kansas State 32-28 last week than Iowa did in beating Ball State at home, 17-13.

Iowa will also likely be without its best player, tackle Brandon Scherff, as he recovers from a knee injury.

But the Hawkeyes took a major step forward defensively last week. Ball State’s only touchdown came on a fumble return, and the Cardinals gained just 219 yards.

If Iowa’s struggling offense can make a similar turnaround, the Cyclones could be in big trouble in Iowa City.

“Iowa, historically, has been known for being extremely sound. Not allowing a lot of points. Being where they’re supposed to be. Not giving up a lot of big plays. This defense is no different,” Rhoads said.

Here are some of the noteworthy items to consider as Ferentz looks to even his record against the Cyclones to 8-8:

OTT-A PLAY: Iowa defensive end Drew Ott is expected to play Saturday after a moped accident early Monday morning led to “a couple stitches,” according to Ferentz. Ott, a junior, earned the league’s defensive player of the week honor on Monday after making 13 tackles and forcing the late fumble that sealed last week’s win. “He’s just a guy that competes and works hard and goes hard. That’s his game in a nutshell to me. He’s a really determined player,” Ferentz said.

GO WEST: The one guy that Iowa’s defense can’t let out of its sight is senior wide receiver/returner Jarvis West, among the Big 12’s most versatile players. West caught and threw TD passes and returned a punt 82 yards for a third touchdown in the loss to the Wildcats. West, who was already Iowa State’s top returner, has also has emerged as Iowa State’s No. 1 option in passing game with star Quenton Bundrage out for the year. “I showed them that I’m capable of doing all those things,” West said.

RUDOCK’S EVOLUTION: One of the major takeaways for the Hawkeyes after last week’s scare was that quarterback Jake Rudock can rescue them if he has to. Rudock threw for a career-high 322 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the final 2:52 as Iowa rallied from a 13-3 deficit. Rudock is completing 68.8 percent of his passes and has yet to throw an interception after tossing 13 a year ago.

SECOND HALF WOES: Iowa State’s offense was markedly improved last week after scoring just 14 points in the opener. But the Cyclones were shut out in the second half for the second week in a row. It’s a troubling sign for coordinator Mark Mangino’s offense, which is last among Big 12 teams with 21 points a game. “The drives in the second half, we started them out well but couldn’t really finish the drives. They kind of seem to stall at midfield every time,” quarterback Sam Richardson said. “I think for the most part it’s just the third and shorts, the fourth and shorts. You’ve got to convert those.”

KICKED OUT: Iowa’s placekicking situation was a bit of a concern in the offseason. Now it’s a major concern. Starter Marshall Koehn missed 37 and 35-yard field goals last week, and freshman Mick Ellis whiffed on a 29-yarder in his first career try. Ferentz said Tuesday that the Hawkeyes won’t settle on Saturday’s starter until the end of the week.

___

Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP

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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