Skip to main content

Jayhawks, Chippewas trying to get back on track

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The first order of business for Kansas after a lackluster loss at Duke last week was to learn from its myriad of mistakes.

That took, oh, about a full afternoon.

By supper time, Kansas coach Charlie Weis was already on Central Michigan.

“Everyone knows that this is a critical game because now you go into the Big 12 stretch that we’re about to go into,” Weis said, “and I’m not even worrying about any of those games right now.

“I think this kind of sets the table, sets the table either way,” he said, “sets the table well or it doesn’t, sets the table where you’re really, really fighting an uphill battle.”

Besides, who wants to relive the disaster in Durham?

A similar story unfolded this week at Central Michigan, which had been riding high after a win over Purdue. The Chippewas (2-1) proceeded to get pounded by Syracuse, and will try to get back on track against Kansas on Saturday before starting Mid-American Conference play.

“Obviously we were disappointed, but you only have 24 hours to be happy with a win or mad with a loss,” Central Michigan offensive lineman Andy Phillips said. “We remember the feeling we had in the locker room (after Syracuse) and that’s something we don’t want to feel again.”

This could be a make-or-break game for Weis, who has yet to show much progress in his first two seasons in Lawrence. The Jayhawks (1-1) struggled to beat Southeast Missouri State in their opener, and they managed just a field goal in a 41-3 loss to the Blue Devils.

The road doesn’t get any easier after Saturday, either. The Jayhawks open up against Texas, play resurgent West Virginia and then get Oklahoma State to start conference play.

Hence, the importance on building some momentum against Central Michigan.

“I think if you go out there and play really well against a good, physical team and win the game,” Weis said, “I think that you’ll be really encouraged going into the next one.”

Here are other things to watch about Saturday’s matchup.

NO RAWLS: Central Michigan remains without star running back Thomas Rawls, who is charged with three felonies in connection with an April theft. He had 155 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Boilermakers. “When someone’s not here, I think it’s more of, ‘OK, next man’s got to step up,'” Chippewas coach Dan Enos said. “Last week we didn’t do that without some guys.”

POUND THE ROCK: Even without Rawls in the backfield, the Jayhawks figure Central Michigan will try to establish the run. Makes sense, too. Duke freshman Shaun Wilson ran for 245 yards and three touchdowns against them last week. “They’re going to try to run the ball as much as they can and then try to pass off it,” Kansas defensive back Cassius Sendish said. “They’re physical.”

COUNTERING COZART: Central Michigan was hurt by Syracuse’s Terrel Hunt, a dual-threat quarterback. The Jayhawks have a similar player in Montell Cozart. “He’s big, got a strong arm, and he can move,” Enos said. “And I thought the young man from Syracuse played very well and we didn’t do enough things to disrupt him. We need to do a better job this week of that.”

SPEAKING OF COZART: The sophomore will be trying to bounce back from a miserable showing against the Blue Devils. He was 11 of 27 for 89 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. “Every quarterback goes through it,” Cozart said. “I feel like that doesn’t define me. Just moving forward, not trying to dwell on last week.”

GETTING DEFENSIVE: After giving up 41 points to Duke last week, Kansas defensive coordinator Clint Bowen came to the defense of his guys this week. “Were there bright spots in the game? Yes,” he said. “I was proud of the way the kids fought the entire game. I thought we had a lot of guys give good efforts. Our players are a good bunch to be around and they are hard workers. We have to continue to coach them the best possible way we can to give them a chance.”

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