Skip to main content

Rutgers braces for Navy’s triple-option

By WTOP Staff

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Rutgers coach Kyle Flood describes Navy’s running game as “the gold standard of option offenses.”

The Scarlet Knights’ goal Saturday is to tarnish that reputation by stopping a potent running attack that leads the nation with 403 yards per game.

“When you face the triple-option, it’s about everybody knowing their jobs, knowing their assignments,” Rutgers defensive tackle Darius Hamilton said. “They’re great at what they do. Probably the best in the world and being part of the Navy, they’re probably the most disciplined people you ever meet. So you’ve got to pay attention to the little details.”

Rutgers has fared well against Navy’s option in the past. Just two years ago, Navy could muster only 162 yards on the ground in a 21-20 defeat.

“Every time we’ve played them, they’ve had a pretty good plan for going against us and we’ve struggled moving the ball,” Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo said.

Rutgers (2-1) is looking to rebound from a 13-10 loss to Penn State. Navy (2-1) hopes to maintain the momentum built from winning consecutive road games against Temple and Texas State.

___

Some things to know about the Rutgers-Navy matchup:

THE FRIDGE IS BACK: Flood lured Ralph Friedgen out of retirement to become offensive coordinator. Friedgen, who spent 10 years as head coach at Maryland, will return to the state in a coaching capacity for the first time since being fired from that job. “I’m glad to see Ralph back in the game, but I’m not happy to be playing against him because he is a great offensive mind, runs a great system and does such a great job of coaching,” Navy defensive coordinator Buddy Green said.

REYNOLDS RETURNS: Navy starting quarterback Keenan Reynolds sat out the Texas State game with a bruised right knee. He never before missed a game in high school or college. Reynolds participated in practice every day this week and did not seem to favor the knee when running the ball or planting on passes. Reynolds said Monday that he planned to start and Niumatalolo believes the junior is on schedule to do so. “I’m pretty sure he’ll be able to play,” Niumatalolo said.

SUPER NOVA: Rutgers senior Gary Nova ranks 10th among active Division I quarterbacks with 7,162 career passing yards and eighth with 57 touchdown passes. But he’s also tossed 45 interceptions, including five last week against Penn State. “I don’t think Gary lacks confidence,” Flood said. “Gary knows he needs to do a better job managing the game and making decisions.”

BLOCK PARTY: Since 2009, Rutgers has led the nation with 39 blocked kicks or punts. The Scarlet Knights have recorded at least four blocks per year since 2007. Rutgers again leads all Football Bowl Subdivision schools with six blocks this season. Redshirt freshman defensive end Kemoko Turay has two of those blocks. “Their special teams are super aggressive. We have to be sound scheme-wise, we have to be sound with our assignments and technique-wise,” Niumatalolo said.

HOME SWEET HOME: Navy has won eight straight home games dating back over the last two seasons. The Midshipmen were victorious in their final three home games in 2012 then went undefeated (5-0) at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in 2013. This is Navy’s home opener after facing Ohio State in Baltimore, then visiting Pennsylvania and Texas “Hopefully, we’ll get the 12th man on Saturday. We need it, especially against this team coming in,” Niumatalolo said.

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