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Michigan hosts high-scoring Utes

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — A decade ago, Michigan and Utah reached BCS bowls in the same season, the Wolverines by winning the Big Ten under Lloyd Carr and the Utes with an undefeated record under Urban Meyer.

Those memories seem awfully distant as Michigan prepares to host Utah on Saturday, but there is still enough potential within both of these teams to make this weekend’s game an intriguing one. This Big Ten-Pac-12 matchup isn’t being touted as a Rose Bowl preview, but the Wolverines could use a victory over a major-conference opponent, and Utah has put up big numbers offensively while trying to recover from back-to-back losing seasons.

“Our guys are excited to go there and play one of the most storied programs in college football,” Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said.

Michigan is trying to reclaim some of its prestige in Brady Hoke’s fourth season as coach. He took the Wolverines to the Sugar Bowl in his first season, but the results since then have been more pedestrian. This year, expectations became tempered a bit after a 31-0 loss at Notre Dame on Sept. 6, but with the rest of the Big Ten struggling as well, Michigan (2-1) is still capable of having a successful season if it makes the necessary improvements.

The Wolverines haven’t won the Big Ten since that 2004 season, when they went to the Rose Bowl. Utah finished unbeaten that season, winning the Fiesta Bowl.

The Utes also went unbeaten in 2008 under Whittingham, winning at Michigan in that season’s opener. But Utah is only 20-19 since it started playing in the Pac-12 in 2011.

Utah (2-0) opened this season with a 56-14 win over Idaho State and a 59-27 victory over Fresno State.

“They are a physical group, and they have always had offensive skill — the receivers, the backs, the quarterback. They have always been pretty skillful,” Hoke said. “They are big up front. On defense, they are very active. They are very active and they pressure a bunch.”

Here are a few things to watch when the Wolverines host the Utes:

FUNCHESS’ HEALTH: After appearing to injure his leg against Notre Dame, Michigan WR Devin Funchess did not suit up for last week’s win over Miami (Ohio). The 6-foot-5 Funchess is probably Michigan’s most dynamic offensive player, so if he can’t play against Utah, it’s a significant loss for the Wolverines.

SHARP START: Utah QB Travis Wilson threw as many interceptions (16) as touchdown passes last season, but he hasn’t been picked off through the first two games in 2014. Dres Anderson is averaging 28 yards per catch for the Utes.

ON THE GROUND: Michigan RB Derrick Green is averaging 6.6 yards per carry. He ran for a combined 307 yards against Appalachian State and Miami, but was held to 25 against Notre Dame. Utah has not been great at stopping the run so far this season, so look for the Wolverines to try to establish Green early.

DISRUPTIVE: What the Utes have done well is rush the passer. Utah has 11 sacks in two games, for an average of 5 1/2 that leads the nation. Michigan has struggled to protect QB Devin Gardner at times, and the Wolverines’ ability to avoid negative plays could be a major factor this week.

Utah is also averaging 10 1/2 tackles for loss, which is tied for the best mark in the nation.

“I think that speaks to the activeness and the athletic nature of our defensive front,” Whittingham said. “We play aggressive defense here, and it’s good to show up in some of those categories.”

TURNOVER ISSUES: Michigan actually outgained Notre Dame, but the result was ugly thanks to four turnovers by the Wolverines. Then Michigan turned the ball over three times in the second quarter against Miami before recovering for a 34-10 win.

The Wolverines can’t afford to allow that sloppiness to become a habit.

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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