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Michigan hoping to show progress against Miami-OH

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan failed badly in its first true test of the season, and coach Brady Hoke is trying to convince fans to stay positive.

That’s not an easy sell right now.

“If they’re truly fans, they’ll believe in these kids and what they’ve done and the hard work they’ve put in,” Hoke said. “If they’re not, they won’t.”

The Wolverines host Miami of Ohio on Saturday, and they are heavily favored. But no matter what Michigan does this weekend, it will be hard to erase the memory of last week’s 31-0 loss at Notre Dame — which raised familiar questions about the program’s direction.

The Wolverines (1-1) probably won’t be able to quiet those concerns against the RedHawks, even with a victory. Miami has lost 18 straight games.

At this point, all Michigan can do is hope to make progress.

Miami would love to have Michigan’s problems. The RedHawks (0-2) haven’t won since a victory over Ohio on Oct. 27, 2012. They fell way behind in this year’s opener against Marshall before rallying to make that 42-27 final score somewhat respectable.

Last weekend, they lost to Eastern Kentucky of the Football Championship Subdivision.

“Looking forward to Michigan,” Miami coach Chuck Martin said. “Obviously, awesome opponent, national-caliber players, and an incredible environment, and anybody that hasn’t been there on game day, it’s a pretty awesome spectacle.”

Here are a few things to watch when Michigan hosts Miami:

ATTENDANCE: Michigan’s streak of 252 consecutive crowds of at least 100,000 is part of the program’s legacy, but it’s fair to wonder how much longer that run will continue. Some of the Wolverines’ most anticipated games this year (Michigan State and Ohio State) are on the road, and so was the Notre Dame matchup.

This weekend’s game against Miami — which comes after a disheartening loss — may have a hard time generating much buzz.

OFFENSIVE MALAISE: Another Michigan streak is already history. The Wolverines had not been shut out in an NCAA-record 365 games before the loss to Notre Dame.

Offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier was hired away from Alabama this offseason, but the scoreless showing against Notre Dame was not a promising start. The Wolverines actually outgained the Irish 289-280, but Michigan turned the ball over four times.

TOP TARGET: One player who still put up solid numbers against Notre Dame was wide receiver Devin Funchess, who caught nine passes for 107 yards. That came after he caught three touchdown passes in a season-opening win over Appalachian State.

Miami may not have anyone who can match up with the 6-foot-5 Funchess, but Michigan can’t afford to rely too much on him throughout the season. No other Wolverine has more than six catches after the first two games.

BACK IN MICHIGAN: Miami hired Martin as its new coach in December. He had been Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator, but before that he went 74-7 from 2004-09 as head coach and offensive coordinator at Grand Valley State, a Division II powerhouse in Michigan.

BIG TEN OUTLOOK: As bad as the Wolverines looked against Notre Dame, that loss doesn’t affect their chances of winning the Big Ten, and the rest of the league didn’t exactly cover itself in glory last weekend.

Michigan can still improve a lot from now until November — the way rival Michigan State did on its Big Ten title run last year — but the Wolverines’ conference has a long way to go to earn back national respect.

“You see the teams in our conference and the competitive nature that they have. We need to win games like the game we just played in,” Hoke said. “We’ve got to worry about Miami of Ohio. But most importantly, we’ve got to worry about Michigan, because that’s where it all starts.”

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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