Skip to main content

A year after 72-0, Louisville takes on FIU again

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

MIAMI (AP) — There’s little chance that Louisville will overlook Florida International this week.

And FIU can blame Virginia for that.

When the Cavaliers knocked off Louisville 23-21 last weekend, whatever possibility there was of the Cardinals taking their trip to FIU lightly probably went up in smoke. Louisville embarrassed FIU last season, winning 72-0 in the second-largest shutout win that any team in major college football enjoyed during the 2013 campaign.

But now, instead of maybe expecting another laugher, the Cardinals (2-1) are looking to atone for mistakes made a week ago when they visit the Panthers (1-2) on Saturday afternoon.

“It’s a completely new year, two new teams, new schemes, new staff,” Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. “We’ve got to go down and prove that we’re a good football team and that’s what we’re going to work hard to do.”

It’s the second straight week that FIU has faced a bigger-name opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Panthers jumped out to a 16-0 lead after one quarter on Pittsburgh last week, before falling 42-25.

Pittsburgh came in with a very run-oriented offense. FIU is bracing for more balance from Louisville, which may mean more problems as well.

“It’s going to be a different challenge than what it was a week ago,” FIU coach Ron Turner said. “It’s just as big of a challenge, but a different challenge.”

To call last season’s Louisville game a disaster for FIU would be an understatement.

FIU ran 43 plays, gaining a total of 27 yards. All 27 of those yards came on four pass completions; the 34 rushes FIU tried gained a total of zero yards. No individual running play collected more than six yards and the Panthers punted 11 times in 13 possessions; the other two FIU offensive series ended because the game clock expired, perhaps mercifully.

The numbers wound up being staggering.

— The 72-point loss matched the worst endured by a FBS team in more than a decade. The last time an FBS team lost by more than 72 was Texas A&M, which was beaten 77-0 by Oklahoma in 2003.

— The 27 total yards were the fewest by a major college football team since at least 1996.

— FIU never ran an offensive play in Louisville territory. The Panthers got to the Louisville 49 once, but punted on that ensuing play.

And here’s some bad news for FIU: Even with a regime and quarterback change, Turner sees plenty of similarities between last year’s Louisville and this year’s Louisville.

“There are not a lot of differences, to be honest,” Turner said.

___

Here’s what to know when Louisville and FIU face off this weekend:

RECRUITING BASE: Just about every team recruits in Florida, and Louisville tries to get as many players from the hotbed state as anyone. The Cardinals tend to put on a good impression when facing Sunshine State opposition, winning eight of their last nine games against Florida schools.

HOMESTAND CONTINUES: By the end of the weekend, FIU will be one of three teams to already have played four home games this season. South Florida and Vanderbilt are the others. Entering this week, the Panthers, Bulls and Commodores have a combined record of 3-6, so maybe getting out on the road will be a good change of pace.

MISSING BONNAFON: Louisville will be without reserve quarterback Reggie Bonnafon this weekend. Bonnafon’s father died earlier this week, and Petrino said the funeral is scheduled for Saturday. Bonnafon has completed 14 of 20 passes this season for 151 yards and a touchdown.

MCGOUGH DEVELOPING: FIU true freshman quarterback Alex McGough has thrown for two touchdowns in each of his last two games. The last FIU quarterback to have multiple touchdown tosses in consecutive games was Jake Medlock, his coming against South Alabama and Florida Atlantic in November 2012. McGough threw for 224 yards and ran for another score in last week’s loss to Pitt.

STILL IMPRESSIVE: Even with last week’s loss, Louisville is 16-3 in its last 19 games. The three losses are by a combined eight points. Louisville’s last double-digit loss was Nov. 10, 2012, a 45-26 defeat at Syracuse.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote