Skip to main content

Canes-Huskers, Hoke’s job security are highlighted

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

A look at some things to watch in the Big Ten during Week 4:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Miami at No. 24 Nebraska. Not so long ago, when the Hurricanes met the Cornhuskers, everybody in the nation grabbed a chair in front of the (not light and thin, definitely not high-def) TV. Five times in 19 years from the 1984 Orange Bowl to the 2002 Rose Bowl, college football held its breath and waited to see what might happen. The Canes won four of those five matchups, taking three national titles. Three of those meetings were blowouts, all in Miami’s favor. But the two close games — the Bernie Kosar-led Canes’ 31-30 stunner in 1984 and the Huskers’ title-clinching victory behind Tommy Frazier in the ’95 Orange Bowl — are classics. Neither program has been a national contender for years. It’s unlikely this game will change that. But it sure will be nice to see all those old Tom Osborne, Geno Torretta and Turner Gill film clips.

BEST MATCHUP: Utah at Michigan. This is just the next in what will likely be a series of challenges to Brady Hoke’s four-year coaching tenure with the Wolverines. Fans of the maize and blue have been all over their coach after a lopsided, 31-0 loss in the final rivalry matchup with Notre Dame in Week Two, sandwiched between unimpressive victories against overmatched Appalachian State and Miami (Ohio). Mighty Michigan is just 12-10 in its last 22 games. Utah (2-0) has a good coach (Kyle Whittingham) and QB (Travis Wilson) while Hoke’s offense (led by Devin Gardner) and defense (top tackler: Joe Bolden) have been good but not good enough for the critics.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: First, the bad: The Big Ten is just 13-13 against Football Bowl Subdivision teams in nonconference play, 10-0 against Football Championship Subdivision teams and a lowly 1-10 against the other power conferences plus Notre Dame. Rutgers’ win at Washington State to open the season represents the lone victory. … It could get worse, too. Conference teams are either an underdog or a slight favorite in most of Saturday’s games (Iowa at Pittsburgh, Maryland at Syracuse, Utah at Michigan, Miami at Nebraska, Southern Illinois at Purdue and Rutgers at Navy). The only clear-cut favorite is No. 11 Michigan State at home against Eastern Michigan. … Now, the good: Indiana’s Tevin Coleman leads the nation in rushing (218.5 ypg) and all-purpose yards (237.5). … Nebraska is No. 5 nationally in total offense (594.3 ypg) and Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg is seventh in the country in passing yards per game (360.7). … The best news, of course, is that Big Ten play begins in earnest next week, putting the ugly comparisons with the SEC and Pac-12 on the back burner until, oh, the bowl games.

LONG SHOT: Indiana at No. 18 Missouri. From the outside, this looks like a laugher. And, covering our tracks, maybe it will be. But Indiana has a wild and productive offense and the Hoosiers (1-1) are coming off an embarrassing loss at Mid-American Conference foe Bowling Green. Missouri (3-0) has a former Mr. Football in Ohio (Maty Mauk) at QB who likes to sling it all over the place. If the Hoosiers’ defense shows up — always a big question — maybe this won’t be an SEC walkover. Or maybe it will.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Michigan State’s Jeremy Langford. Some preseason publications listed him as a Heisman Trophy dark horse after he put up 1,422 yards a year ago. But an injured left ankle has limited the senior to just 143 yards on 37 carries with one TD in Sparty’s 1-1 start. Coach Mark Dantonio will want to establish a physical advantage on the line by running the ball against the MAC’s Eastern Michigan, so don’t be surprised if Langford grabs some headlines with some impressive numbers.

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