Skip to main content

Gophers try to bounce back vs. San Jose State

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota is back at home this weekend after a humbling loss.

The game Saturday against San Jose State is the last chance to get on track before Big Ten play begins.

“We’re hungry. We’re ready to get back out there. We’ve got some things that we’ve got to clean up,” wide receiver K.J. Maye said. “We’ve got some things that we need to prove so people will know that we’re still good.”

The Gophers (2-1) were beaten badly at TCU. Already-hurting quarterback Mitch Leidner, who was playing with a brace on his left knee, suffered a turf toe injury on his left foot and was replaced by Chris Streveler down the stretch.

“It was a good wake-up call. We needed that. I’d rather have that early in the season rather than later,” Maye said.

Leidner was listed as questionable to play the Spartans. If he’s not deemed ready, Streveler would start.

“I just kind of prepare the same way, like I’m going to play, like I’m going to start,” Streveler said this week. “If I play, I’m going to be ready. If I don’t play, I’ll still be ready and I’ll be there to help Mitch.”

The Gophers beat San Jose State 43-24 at home last year, Leidner’s first career start. For the Spartans (1-1), this will be their second straight road trip to an opponent from one of the five major conferences. They lost 59-13 at Auburn two weeks ago.

Even with many of the conference teams appearing vulnerable this month during a September not to remember for its proud members, Big Ten play is always a significant step up from most of the nonconference opponents the Gophers schedule.

“It’s a huge game,” Maye said. “We want to be crisp and clean, no turnovers. We want to go into the Big Ten with confidence, of course.”

Here are some key nuggets to know about the game:

SPARTAN SNAPSHOT

With quarterback David Fales, a sixth-round NFL draft pick by Chicago this year, San Jose State finished 6-6 last season and 5-3 in the Mountain West. The year before that, the Spartans went 11-2 with a victory over Bowling Green in the Military Bowl. Two of their eight losses over the span have come against Pac-12 power Stanford.

The Spartans were picked in the preseason media poll to finish fifth in the six-team West, the weaker of the two divisions. They’re 2-6 all-time against Big Ten teams, beating Minnesota in 1992 and Illinois in 2002.

San Jose State wide receivers coach Greg Lewis is a notable name for the Minnesota crowd. He finished his NFL career with the Vikings, hauling in a last-second touchdown pass from Brett Favre to win a memorable 2009 game against San Francisco.

PASSING PROBLEMS: The Gophers have a run-first offense, but after three games they’re last in the Big Ten with 130.7 passing yards per game. That’s 117th out of 125 in the FBS. Leidner has completed just 26 of 54 attempts, with four interceptions and two touchdowns. Coach Jerry Kill said the struggles have a two-part cause, protection by the offensive line and inconsistency by Leidner in getting the ball quickly out of his hand, but he blamed himself for the lack of passing production.

“That’s my job as a head coach. I’ve got to do a better job,” Kill said.

DANGEROUS MAN: Tyler Ervin scored San Jose State’s only touchdown in the Auburn game, on a 75-yard pass. The school record-holder with three career kickoff returns for scores, Ervin was switched from running back to wide receiver this season. With four career special teams touchdowns, Ervin has tied the all-time mark for the program. He missed last year with a severely sprained ankle

“It’s always good when a veteran returns to play,” coach Ron Caragher said. “He can really give us a boost.”

BANGED UP: In addition to Leidner, several other key players were listed as questionable to play Saturday by the Gophers: Maye, tight end Maxx Williams and left guard Zac Epping (ankle). Injuries for Maye and Williams weren’t specified. Defensive end Alex Keith (knee) will miss his third straight game.

PICKOFFS PICKING UP: The Gophers have five interceptions in three games this season, tied for the Big Ten lead, including two by cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun.

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