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No. 14 Mississippi prepares for home opener

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

Hugh Freeze has firsthand knowledge of the Sun Belt Conference, having coached at Arkansas State in 2011 before moving on to Mississippi.

That’s why he’s not taking anything for granted when No. 14 Ole Miss (2-0) hosts Louisiana-Lafayette (1-1) on Saturday.

“There’s no question in my mind the bull’s-eye that will be on our chest for this week with the group from Lafayette will be huge,” Freeze said. “We expect to get their best shot and we have to be prepared for it.”

Ole Miss has had a relatively easy first two weeks of the season, pulling away for a 35-13 victory against Boise State in the season opener before last week’s 41-3 win over Vanderbilt.

Louisiana-Lafayette was picked to win the Sun Belt Conference by the league’s coaches during the preseason, but suffered a 48-20 nonconference loss to Louisiana Tech last weekend.

“We’re ready to get back to basics,” Hudspeth said. “To me, that’s what you do when you lose a game like this. We’re confident in our players and what we’re doing.”

Hudspeth is a native of Louisville, Mississippi, and was the passing game coordinator and receivers coach at Mississippi State in 2009 and 2010.

He said there isn’t much time to pout about the Louisiana Tech loss because the Rebels present an even bigger challenge.

“They’re deep, they’re fast and they’re athletic,” Hudspeth said. “(The defense) runs to the ball like a pack of wolves. They’re impressive.”

Hudspeth also had high praise for Ole Miss senior quarterback Bo Wallace, who threw for 320 yards and a touchdown against Vanderbilt.

“I’m just relaxing and playing ball,” Wallace said. “I don’t think it’s the best I’ve ever played or anything like that. I’m just trying to put points up and trying to win games.”

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Things to watch in Ole Miss’ home opener against Louisiana-Lafayette:

MISSISSIPPI TIES: Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze and Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth know each other well. The two both coached in the Sun Belt in 2011 when Freeze was at Arkansas State, with Freeze’s team taking a 30-21 victory in their only meeting. Hudspeth is a native of Louisville, Mississippi, and was an assistant coach at Mississippi State in 2009 and 2010. He has 15 players on his roster for the Magnolia State.

HIGH RANKING: Ole Miss has rolled through its first two weeks without much of a challenge, rising to No. 14 in the most recent Associated Press poll. That’s the highest ranking for the Rebels since 2009, when they were briefly ranked No. 4 early that season before losing to South Carolina.

ON BROADWAY: Louisiana-Lafayette QB Terrance Broadway is in his third season as the starter and been a very productive part of the offense. He’s thrown for 40 touchdowns and run for 18 more during his career. Said Freeze: “Their quarterback is very talented, and they have talent around him with receivers and running backs and offensive line.”

BO’S BIG GAME: Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace had a big game against Vanderbilt, completing 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and a touchdown. He also had no turnovers, which was a big improvement from the Boise State game, when he threw three interceptions. Wallace has completed at least seven passes to five different receivers, including Cody Core, who has caught eight passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns.

STOUT DEFENSE: The Ole Miss defense has been terrific through two games, allowing just 16 total points, including only one touchdown. That mark ranks fifth nationally and second in the Southeastern Conference. The Rebels have been especially good in the secondary, with five interceptions.

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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