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Duke not looking past Tulane with Miami ahead

By WTOP Staff

JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Write

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Duke insists it won’t get caught looking past Tulane.

There won’t be any peeking ahead to next week’s game at Miami because coach David Cutcliffe says his Blue Devils have improved but aren’t yet good enough to overlook anyone.

Duke (3-0) expects to have its full focus on the Green Wave (1-2) on Saturday in its final nonconference game before taking on the Hurricanes in their Atlantic Coast Conference opener.

“Our players deserve some kudos for the hard work they’re put in,” Cutcliffe said. “They’ve gotten themselves reputationally better, but all of that is so short-lived in our world. … We’re a product of how well we’re going to work (and) … if we get beyond that, we’ll be in trouble.”

The Blue Devils have barely been tested so far, winning each of their first three games by an average of 42-11. They’re outscoring their opponents 55-10 in the second halves of games, and they’re one of only a handful of teams in the nation that has not turned the ball over.

They’re getting a visit from a Tulane team that has intercepted a pass in every game this season and ranks sixth nationally with five picks.

The Green Wave defense is led by Nico Marley — the son of former Miami linebacker Rohan Marley and the grandson of reggae singer Bob Marley.

“He’s very small (5-foot-9), but he can really run,” Tulane coach Curtis Johnson said. “He brings the most leadership on that defense. He brings the right attitude every day. He comes to work every day and he is fearless. He looks like he’s up against a 7-footer and he knocks them back every time.”

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Some things to know about Duke’s nonconference finale against Tulane:

STRONG SHAUN: What will freshman Shaun Wilson do for an encore — and just how much will he play? Duke’s third-string running back burst onto the scene last week against Kansas, rushing for a school-record 245 yards with three touchdowns covering at least 45 yards apiece. Yet once again, he didn’t show up on the depth chart — where Shaquille Powell is listed as the starter with Josh Snead as the backup. “I honestly don’t know what the rotation will be like once we come into ACC play,” Powell said.

MORE ON MARLEY: The Tulane linebacker plays with a chip on his shoulder and high emotion — sometimes too much. Marley was flagged late in last week’s win over Southeastern Louisiana for making a tackle and then posing like Superman, Johnson said. “I told him to do Mighty Man or something, not Superman,” the coach said. “That stuff is not good for you.”

STOPPING THE RUN: The Green Wave’s rank of 94th nationally against the run might be a little misleading because one of their first three opponents was option-oriented Georgia Tech, which rushed 57 times for 344 yards while only completing three passes. Tulane allowed an average of 106 yards rushing to its other two opponents, Tulsa and Southeastern Louisiana.

YOUNG DBS: Duke’s young secondary — which features four sophomores along with junior Jeremy Cash — could get a test from a Tulane team that loves to throw the ball. The Green Wave have thrown at least two touchdown passes in each game and throw the ball about twice as often as they run it.

THROWBACK DAY: Duke is turning the clock back 25 years and will wear the uniforms of its last ACC championship team, the Steve Spurrier-led group in 1989.

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Follow Joedy McCreary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joedyap

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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