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Purdue looks for bigger plays vs S Illinois

By WTOP Staff

JEFF WASHBURN
Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) — A week ago as Purdue prepared to play Notre Dame, sophomore quarterback Danny Etling was fighting to keep his job.

After solidifying his role by completing 27 of 40 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-14 loss to the Fighting Irish, Etling is ready to take the next step: more yards per completion on Saturday when the Boilermakers (1-2) host Southern Illinois (3-0).

Etling is completing 57.3 percent of his passes (63 of 110 for 541 yards), but for an average of only 8.6 yards per completion.

With Southern Illinois averaging 44.3 points a game, Etling knows short throws may not be the answer against the high-powered Salukis from the Championship Subdivision.

“We know we need to stretch things by throwing the ball down the field,” Etling said. “We have to respect the defense and continue to complete the short stuff. That is important for DeAngelo Yancey to make plays. We have to give him a chance to make big plays.”

Yancey is Purdue’s primary deep threat with a 19 yards per catch average.

“I have confidence in Danny that he can throw the bomb,” Yancey said. “He has to trust that if he throws a bomb, I can come down with it.”

Etling, who made eight starts as a freshman, is eager to take offensive coordinator John Shoop’s advice and take the ball downfield instead of throwing dump off after dump off pass.

“He had two or three (long) balls that he just missed,” Shoop said of the Notre Dame game. “We have to get better at throwing intermediate and deep balls. To have as many completions as we had against Notre Dame – 27 – we needed 350 yards. We have to get more chunks in the passing game. It’s not any one thing. It involves protection, getting open and hitting them. We took some shots and left some on the ground.”

Purdue coach Darrell Hazell will continue to emphasize deeper throws.

“We had opportunities in the passing game,” Hazell said. “We threw the ball down the field, and a couple of times, our guys went up and just couldn’t get it. We have to trust in our ability to react to the football.”

Other things to watch in Saturday’s game:

WHICH PURDUE SHOWS UP? After playing with little or no enthusiasm in a 38-17 loss to Central Michigan on Sept. 6, Purdue bounced back with excellent effort in a loss to Notre Dame. Running back Raheem Mostert said the young Boilermakers have learned a valuable lesson in the past two games.

“Coming off Notre Dame was a real eye-opener for a lot of us,” Mostert said. “But at the same time, we know the potential we have going into this game. We have to win non-conference games.”

SECOND HALF: In starting 3-0 for the first time since 2007, Southern Illinois has allowed only three second-half points. In consecutive losses to Central Michigan and Notre Dame, Purdue scored a total of seven points after halftime.

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS: Southern Illinois’ 44.3 scoring average ranks fourth among all FCS teams, and it’s 463.3 yards of offense per games ranks 13th. Running back Malcolm Agnew is averaging 150 rushing yards a game and two touchdowns. Quarterback Mark Iannotti is 51 of 71 for 639 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.

FEW AND FAR BETWEEN: Missouri Valley Conference member schools are 2-49 all-time against current Big Ten Conference schools, although Southern Illinois has one of the two victories – at Indiana in 2006.

STREAKING SALUKIS: Southern Illinois is 3-0 for the first time since 2007 and is on a five-game winning streak dating to last season. That’s the second-longest streak in the FCS, trailing only North Dakota State’s FCS-record 27-game winning streak.

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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