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Former powers Miami, No. 24 Nebraska set to play

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Miami will play No. 24 Nebraska on Saturday night for the first time since the programs were finishing their runs of dominance, and the history isn’t lost on today’s players.

But to them, the game at Memorial Stadium is more about the future of two teams that haven’t won a title of any kind the past decade.

“It’s a big thing when it comes to playing Miami because of the tradition,” quarterback Tommy Armstrong said, “but we’re not looking back on that. We are just going to play like any other week and prepare the right way. It’s a normal game for us.”

There was nothing normal about the last five games between the teams, all in bowls. The winner in four of them was crowned national champion, most recently Miami after the 2002 Rose Bowl.

This is by far the most anticipated game on Nebraska’s home schedule. It coincides with the 20th anniversary celebration for the 1994 national championship team, which defeated Miami in the Orange Bowl for the first of Tom Osborne’s three national titles.

Osborne, as athletic director, set up the home-and-home series that winds up in Miami next year.

“There was no grand scheme behind it,” Osborne said. “Miami turned out to be available, so we signed them up.”

It was 2009 when the games were scheduled, and Blake James was still four years from becoming Miami’s athletic director. James senses the nostalgia, though. He worked in administrative jobs at both Miami and Nebraska in the 1990s.

“I think they’re some of the greatest times in Hurricane football history,” James said. “And so, excited to have these two games set up.”

Nebraska (3-0) takes a big step up in competition before opening Big Ten play against Illinois next week. The Huskers’ closest game was a shockingly close win over FCS McNeese State. They also have blown out Florida Atlantic and Fresno State.

Miami (2-1) is coming off easy wins over FCS Florida A&M and Arkansas State after a season-opening, 31-13 loss to Atlantic Coast Conference newcomer Louisville. The Hurricanes totaled only 244 yards at Louisville, and they’re converting only 23 percent of their third downs for the season. Saturday’s game is an opportunity to measure their progress with freshman quarterback Brad Kaaya.

“We’re getting in rhythm,” running back Duke Johnson said. “I wouldn’t say we’re there yet, but we’re working on it and that’s something we’re trying to improve on — getting there from the beginning of the game and staying there to the end. We have to be efficient and make sure that every play counts.”

Things to watch when Miami plays Nebraska and goes for its first road win over a ranked opponent since 2009:

RANDY’S DANDY: Nebraska’s Randy Gregory showed against Fresno State last week that he’s full speed after having minor knee surgery on Aug. 31. The defensive end, who led the Big Ten in sacks, makes everyone around him better. He’ll be a headache for Kaaya and his offensive line. “No. 4 is the guy we’re paying the most attention to,” Johnson said.

BIG-PLAY HUSKERS: Nebraska had four scoring plays of more than 50 yards against Fresno State and is tied with Arizona State for the national lead with nine plays from scrimmage of 40 yards or longer. Coach Bo Pelini said those long gains stem largely from opposing defenses stacking the box to stop the run. Opportunities for big plays could be limited this week because Miami’s defense is good enough to play the Huskers straight up.

PHIL-ING THE STAT SHEET: Miami’s Phillip Dorsett has caught eight balls for an average of 36 yards, and he’s the only receiver in the nation this season with three catches for at least 50 yards in a game.

DOMINANT DEFENSE: Miami is eighth nationally in total defense (260 yards per game) and is allowing just 2 yards per rush to rank fourth. The Hurricanes also are 13th with 11 sacks, and they’ve forced six fumbles in three games.

NIGHT TIME’S RIGHT TIME: Nebraska has won 13 straight home night games and is 39-5 all-time under the lights in Lincoln. Thirty of those 39 wins have been by at least 13 points.

___

AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds in Coral Gables, Florida, 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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