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Illinois looks for slow-start fix against Bobcats

By WTOP Staff

DAVID MERCER
Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois has been a strong second-half team this season.

The Illini (2-1) have scored 56 points on eight touchdowns in those six quarters, including three long strikes from quarterback Wes Lunt.

But in those first halves? Illinois has been outscored 61-33 and trailed at halftime in all three games.

“It comes down to what are you doing in the first half, and we’re not being successful in the first half,” Illini coach Tim Beckman said.

Illinois faces Texas State on Saturday, a team that might provide the antidote.

The Bobcats were down fast against Navy last week, trailing 28-0 midway through the second quarter before losing 35-21.

For Texas State (1-1), the key against Illinois will be protecting quarterback Tyler Jones, Bobcats coach Dennis Franchione said. Jones has been sacked just twice in two games.

“We’ve been pretty good at that and Tyler has played well,” Franchione said.

Things to keep an eye on Saturday:

FOURTH QUARTER: Only two of Lunt’s three fourth-quarter performances have resulted in wins for Illinois, but they’ve all been pretty good. The redshirt sophomore quarterback is 21-24 in the final period this season for 327 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. Lunt has had to be good. Illinois has trailed after three quarters in every game so far.

ALLISON OUT: Wide receiver Geronimo Allison has emerged as Lunt’s go-to guy, but he’ll miss the game with a knee injury suffered against Washington.

Allison has 16 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-4, 195-pound junior college transfer is fourth in the Big Ten in yards per game at 100.

His absence will force Lunt to focus more on other targets like freshman receiver Mike Dudek, who is the team’s No. 2 receiver with 12 catches, 159 yards and two touchdowns, and junior Justin Hardee. Hardee has nine catches for 131 yards and a touchdown, with most of his production coming in one big day against Western Kentucky. Tight ends Jon Davis and Matt LaCosse could get a few more looks, too. Between them they have 10 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

DEFENDING QUARTERBACKS: As a guy who can effectively run and pass, Jones presents a problem for defenses. “Dual-threat quarterbacks put a lot of pressure on defenses,” Illinois defensive coordinator Tim Banks said. Washington’s Cyler Miles was only the latest to give the Illini headaches. It wasn’t so much the 55 yards he ran for last Saturday, Banks said, as his scrambling on pass plays: “He’ll make guys miss and extend some plays.”

ORAKPO OUT: The Bobcats will be without starting linebacker Mike Orakpo, who Franchione said is out for the season after suffering a pair of devastating injuries in the loss to Navy. “He tore his ACL and his MCL,” Franchione said.

Orakpo, the brother of Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo, was an honorable-mention All-Sun Belt player in 2013, but he isn’t the team’s leading tackler. That’s David Mayo, with 25 through two games.

PENALTIES: At nine a game, Illinois is the most penalized team in the Big Ten so far this season and one of the most penalized teams in the country. They’re ranked 113th. The Illini can take comfort, though, in knowing that the Bobcats are worse. Texas State is averaging 9.5 flags a game.

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Follow David Mercer On Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmercerap

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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