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Notre Dame hoping defense can shut down Boilers

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Notre Dame has stood up to the body blows.

Cornerback KeiVarae Russell and end Ishaq Williams, the projected pillars of Brian Kelly’s rebuilt defense, are out because of an academic fraud investigation and safety Austin Collinsworth, a captain, is out with a sprained knee.

Yet instead of getting knocked down, the Fighting Irish have lived up to their nickname and rallied. A week ago, the short-handed defense handed Michigan its first shutout in nearly 30 years, and with another rival, Purdue, looming on Saturday, coach Brian Kelly and his coaches believe Notre Dame can become even stouter.

“They saw the film and can see a shutout and know that there is a lot there that they need to clean up,” Kelly said. “Look, you can’t get a better teaching environment than that. You’ve shut out an opponent, and there are all these errors that need to get cleaned up.”

Yes, it’s been a better start than most people anticipated when the punishments came down four weeks ago.

Russell, Williams and backup linebacker Kendall Moore represented three of the four players banned from participating in practice or games until the investigation concluded. Two weeks after that, backup safety Eilar Hardy became the fifth player.

Of course, there have been a few stumbles along the way.

Rice exploited communication problems in the secondary for a touchdown in the season opener, and Kelly said the coaches found 34 defensive mental errors on tape from last weekend’s victory.

But that’s hardly cause for major concern.

A win Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium would give Notre Dame a 3-0 start for the second time in three years — something that hasn’t happened since the Irish did it four straight times from 1987-90.

And against the reeling Boilermakers (1-1), Notre Dame has a real chance to get better.

Purdue coach Darrell Hazell hasn’t said who will start at quarterback — Danny Etling, the incumbent, or Austin Appleby, who replaced Etling in the fourth quarter of last week’s disastrous loss to Central Michigan.

“Both of those guys need to get a lot better based off the film. They know that and we know that,” Hazell said earlier this week.

Kelly said the Irish have prepared to see both.

But the real focus this week is simply getting that revamped defense to play a little bit closer to perfection.

“We’re ahead of where maybe you think we would be,” Kelly said of his message to the team. “But here is really where we’re at, so let’s just focus on where we’re at and what we need to do. Regardless of what the number tells you, here’s where we’re at.”

Here are some other things to watch Saturday night.

CRADLE OF QUESTIONS: Last week, Etling and Appleby combined to go 24 of 49 for 204 yards. Etling also threw two interceptions and each quarterback was sacked once. Those are not numbers fans expect from a school dubbed the Cradle of Quarterbacks. If the Boilermakers are to have any chance of being competitive, both need to make major improvements.

FAMILY FEUD: Notre Dame receiver Amir Carlisle caught two TD passes last week and is becoming a regular playmaker for the Irish. Carlisle’s emergence couldn’t come at a better time for his father, Duane, who follows his son’s successes but rarely gets to see him in person because he’s Purdue’s director of sports performance.

TACKLING PROBLEMS: Hazell made it clear this week Purdue’s tackling needs to get better, too. He pointed out the myriad problems Purdue had stopping the run, but it just as bad last weekend in the secondary as evidenced by the 65-yard TD pass Central Michigan threw, coming after receiver Anthony Rice bounced off two would-be tacklers in the first quarter. If things don’t change, this could be a runaway.

TOUGH, TOUGH, TOUGH: On paper, the Purdue-Notre Dame series may look like a mismatch. Not so fast. The Boilermakers have won more games against the Irish than any school other than Southern California (35) and Michigan State (28). Even recently, the Boilers have played well against the Irish. Last season, Notre Dame couldn’t take the lead until the fourth quarter against a Purdue team that won just one game. The rivalry will go on a five-year hiatus after Saturday.

INDY RETURN: Notre Dame travels all around the country to give its fans a chance to see them play. Strangely, though, the Irish have only played one game in Indy since 1923. Notre Dame beat Purdue 23-21 on Sept. 8, 1984, in the Hoosier Dome.

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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