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No surprises when Ga Tech takes on Ga Southern

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — When Georgia Tech faces Georgia Southern for the first time Saturday, one thing is certain.

Both teams will run, run, run — and run some more.

The Yellow Jackets (2-0) are averaging 285 yards per game on the ground, which is about right for coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option offense. Georgia Southern (1-1) put up a staggering 599 yards in last week’s 83-9 blowout of FCS school Savannah State, showing the Eagles intend to remain a run-oriented team even as they move up to the NCAA’s top division.

“Georgia Southern has got to be only place in America where 599 yards of rushing offense is not a school record,” first-year Eagles coach Willie Fritz said. “I’ve never been part of a team that rushed for that much.”

For the first time, Johnson will be facing the team he led from 1997-2001, a tenure that included a 62-10 record, five straight Southern Conference titles and two FCS champions.

The Eagles are in the first year of the transition to FBS, but they’ve already shown they can hang just fine with the big boys. Last year, they pulled off a stunning upset of Florida at the Swamp; in this year’s opener, Georgia Southern had a 10-point lead on North Carolina State in the fourth quarter before losing 24-23.

“There may not be many possessions,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to maximize what you get. You’d like to get off to a good start, get an early lead. That would help.”

So far, Georgia Tech has been sluggish out of the gate, trailing FCS school Wofford late in the first half before pulling away for a 38-19 victory. Last week, the Yellow Jackets again trailed in the second quarter at Tulane, but another strong performance after halftime carried them to a 38-21 victory.

Georgia Southern averaged 11.3 yards per carry against Savannah State, a team that had no business being on the same field against the Eagles. Still, the massive numbers got Johnson’s attention.

“When you play a team like that, you need to be able to get them off the field so you’re the one churning the clock and keeping it away from them,” the Georgia Tech coach said.

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Here are some things to watch for when the Yellow Jackets take on the Eagles:

THEY CAN THROW, TOO: With opposing defenses stacking the line, there are opportunities to pick up big yards through the air. Georgia Tech’s top receiver, DeAndre Smelter, has five catches for 132 yards, with two of those receptions going for touchdowns. Georgia Southern senior Kentrellis Showers hauled in a pair of scoring passes against Savannah State. “To finally get an opportunity to show a little bit what I’ve got, and show a little bit what this receiver corps has, that’s just amazing for us,” Showers said.

PLENTY OF WEAPONS: Quarterback Justin Thomas and fullback Zach Laskey have gotten the bulk of Georgia Tech’s carries through the first two games, but this might be the week to start working more on the outside. Tony Zenon is averaging 8.4 yards per carry, and three other players are picking up more than 7 yards every time they touch the ball. “They’re a machine offensively,” Fritz said. “They do a great job of spreading it around to different people.”

KICKING WOES: Georgia Tech sophomore Harrison Butker still must prove he can be a reliable kicker. He’s only made two of four field goal attempts, missing from 30 and 46 yards.

WHO’S THE HOME TEAM: Georgia Tech has struggled to fill 55,000-seat Bobby Dodd Stadium, and Georgia Southern fans have been eager to get a shot at their fellow state school. There were only limited tickets available Friday, meaning there could be lots of blue — the Eagles’ color — in the stands. “This is a game I think they’ve wanted for a long time,” Johnson said. “It’s finally on schedule. They’ll get their opportunity.”

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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