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Early ACC Coastal test: Hokies vs. Yellow Jackets

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech arrive at their Atlantic Coast Conference openers in search of offensive consistency, and knowing their most important game remaining might be the one on Saturday.

Either the Hokies (2-1) or Yellow Jackets (3-0) have won the ACC’s Coastal Division title in every season but once since the league divided into divisions in 2005, and they meet Saturday at Lane Stadium.

The Hokies have won the last four meetings, but by an average of just seven points.

Virginia Tech is looking to bounce back from a 28-21 loss to East Carolina a week ago and hoping the setback served as a wakeup call to an offense that has been up and down.

Quarterback Michael Brewer led the Hokies to a 35-21 victory at Ohio State two weeks ago, but also has thrown five interceptions and failed to get much going against the Pirates until the fourth quarter.

“It took us awhile to kind of get in a rhythm and get things going and you know we can’t do that,” he said this week. “Especially going forward, starting ACC play, because that’s how you get beat.”

Like last week, the Hokies have a noon start, and coach Frank Beamer said that might have contributed to the slow start against ECU, and is something the team will have to prepare better for this week.

“You’re up early. You’ve got to get ready,” he said. “Things happen quickly and I think now that we have experienced it one time, we’ll be better the next time. Hopefully we will.”

The Yellow Jackets’ triple-option attack is led by quarterback Justin Thomas and has had one good half in each game. Last week it almost cost them. Thomas accounted for four of his five touchdowns before halftime as Georgia Tech opened a 35-10 lead, but needed a fifth with 23 seconds left in a 42-38 victory.

Thomas leads the Yellow Jackets in rushing with 278 yards and has thrown for six touchdowns.

Coach Paul Johnson said the redshirt sophomore has maintained his cool under pressure so far, but will be tested in front of 60,000 plus in Blacksburg, Virginia.

“Conference game on the road, hard place to play and the dfense coming real aggressively,” he said. “It’ll be a huge test for him. I think he’s excited to have the chance to go against them.”

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Here are some things to watch when Georgia Tech plays at Virginia Tech:

TRIPLE TROUBLE: Johnson’s triple-option has gained an average of 306 yards this season, good for 15th nationally, but hasn’t had that success against the Hokies. The Yellow Jackets gained just 129 yards on the ground last season in a 17-10 loss at home, their fourth consecutive loss in the series.

GIVEAWAYS: Georgia Tech turned the ball over three times in its loss last season, and Hokies had no giveaways. Thomas has throw one interception this season, and Brewer has thrown five, and in a matchup that is usually close, one bas mistake by an offense or big play by a defense can be the difference.

STAGE FRIGHT: Youth figures to play a key role for both sides. While Thomas is a first-year starter for the Yellow Jackets as a redshirt sophomore, nine of the Hokies’ 12 touchdowns have been scored by freshman or redshirt freshmen. That includes one defensive score and seven touchdown passes.

AIRING IT OUT: Thomas has attempted 47 passes in three games, while Brewer attempted 56 last week alone in trying to rally the Hokies from a 21-point deficit. If Virginia Tech can get a lead that forces Georgia Tech to throw, the Hokies’ defense ranks second nationally by averaging five sacks.

KICKING ODDITY: Coach Frank Beamer heads up special teams for the Hokies, and has usually managed to find a steady placekicker. He says Joey Slye will be that guy, but so far, he’s 2 for 4 on field goal attempts and both makes came from inside 30 yards. Hokies opponents have missed their last four attempts, and the Yellow Jackets’ Harrison Butker also is 2-for-4, having connected from 30 and 46 yards.

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Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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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