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Washington set to host 2-0 Illinois

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

SEATTLE (AP) — Illinois visiting Washington was supposed to be the first major test of Chris Petersen’s initial season with the Huskies.

Challenges are all the Huskies have faced in their first two weeks.

Sure Washington is 2-0 hosting the also unbeaten Fighting Illini on Saturday. But getting to that point was supposed to be easy facing Hawaii and Eastern Washington.

That was before Washington’s one-point win in Honolulu, followed by a wild 59-52 escape against FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington. Now the Huskies face Illinois (2-0) and an offense that’s put up impressive numbers through two games.

“They throw the heck out of the ball and they are pretty good at it,” Petersen said. “From where we are right now, you’ve got to believe they’re probably feeling pretty good about themselves and can’t wait to get out here and get after it.”

Washington’s secondary was exposed by Eastern Washington and quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Adams threw for seven touchdowns, using his feet to move around and keep plays alive while also dropping perfect passes over the top of the Huskies defense.

Washington’s secondary could be even more limited with top cornerback Marcus Peters reportedly suspended for Saturday’s game after an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and sideline outburst during the third quarter of last week’s game. Petersen did not confirm Peters’ suspension during the week.

“We have discipline things and we keep those in-house and go from there,” Petersen said.

That youthful secondary will now be tasked with trying to slow down Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt, who threw for 456 yards in last week’s win over Western Kentucky. Lunt, a transfer from Oklahoma State, posted the fourth-best passing performance in Illinois history.

“I would say I was more comfortable,” Lunt said. “Definitely did some things I shouldn’t have. … I thought we got better as the game went on. We just need to focus in starting faster. We’re just kind of hitting our stride a little bit. Just from the receivers, they’re getting more and more comfortable. The running game, we really haven’t tested that out yet.”

Here are other things to watch as the Illini and Huskies meet for the 11th time:

SCARY SHELTON: Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton is showing off an array of skills to begin his senior season. Shelton is the national leader in sacks with six through two weeks after having 2½ total in his first three seasons. Shelton bullied the offensive line of Eastern Washington with four sacks last week and lined up both as a traditional tackle and also as a stand-up defensive end.

“It’s only two games in so we can’t really say anything and the games are only going to get tougher,” Shelton said. “So I’m not expecting to show up again and get another four sacks. If it happens, it happens.”

ERRATIC KICKING: Illinois’ kicking game has been a puzzle so far, and coach Tim Beckman said that, two weeks into the season, playing time is up for grabs.

Starter Taylor Zalewksi has put two kickoffs out of bounds this season, and he’s 0-2 on field goals (though one of those was a 50-yarder Illinois elected to try rather than going for it on fourth-and-short against Western Kentucky). Backup Ryan Frain has kicked one kickoff out of bounds.

“Put them in competition-type situations. We’re going to do that,” Beckman said. “We cannot kick the football out of bounds. That’s inexcusable.”

MILES PART TWO: Cyler Miles’ return at quarterback jumpstarted Washington’s offense. Miles was suspended for the opener but returned to account for four total touchdowns against Eastern Washington. The Huskies offense worked with better precision because of Miles’ running threat and he made throws when needed.

That was against an FCS opponent. But he could find success against an Illini defense that’s giving up nearly 400 yards per game thus far.

PERFECT START? Beckman pointed out this week that only four Illinois teams have started 3-0 in the past 25 years, giving his team extra incentive this week.

“We’re fighting for that fifth one,” he said.

Of course, the last Illini team to start 3-0 was the one that cost Beckman’s predecessor his job. The 2011 Illini went 6-0 before dropping six straight. Ron Zook was fired shortly after the last regular-season game and Beckman — now coaching under job pressure himself — was hired from Toledo.

___

Associated Press Writer David Mercer contributed to this report.

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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