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Spartans heavily favored against Eastern Michigan

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio seems acutely aware of what is probably the biggest obstacle facing the Spartans this weekend.

“We need to come ready to play,” Dantonio said. “We need to be able to perform, and every time you step on that field, you’re competing against not just the opposing team, but you’re competing against yourself, your attention to detail, your excellence, your ability to go take the next step as a player.”

The 11th-ranked Spartans are favored by more than 40 points against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, so complacency is certainly a possibility. Dantonio will do his best to prevent any of that, but there isn’t much buzz surrounding this game, even though the two schools are only about 60 miles from each other.

Michigan State is coming off a 46-27 loss at Oregon on Sept. 6. The Spartans (1-1) had a weekend off after that, so they’ll be fighting both rust and the risk of an emotional letdown.

Eastern Michigan (1-2) is in its first season under coach Chris Creighton. The Eagles won their opener against Morgan State, then lost 65-0 to Florida and 17-3 to Old Dominion. Eastern Michigan has a tough challenge against the Spartans.

“They’re confident, they’re well coached, they’re disciplined. They have an aura about them,” Creighton said. “You respect that, because that’s the kind of program that you want to build.”

Here are a few things to watch when the Spartans host the Eagles:

STYLE POINTS: Michigan State put forth a credible performance in the loss to Oregon, but the Big Ten in general is not off to a good start this season. That means even if the Spartans win the rest of their games, it’s hard to say whether they’d be awarded a spot in college football’s new four-team playoff.

Dantonio said emphatically this week he will not run up the score on teams just to impress the playoff committee, but Michigan State does not need this game to be unnecessarily close.

LAST TIME: Dantonio has one fairly recent game he can point to if he’s worried his team will be overconfident. In 2012, the Spartans hosted Eastern Michigan and did not play well at all.

“In 2012, we were down 7-6 at the half,” he said. “We were I think 30-point favorites. Our guys need to come ready to play.”

It was actually 7-3 at halftime of that game. Michigan State went on to win 23-7.

SHUT DOWN: Eastern Michigan’s Tyreese Russell has been named to the watch list for the Mackey Award, which goes to the nation’s top tight end, but although Russell is a threat, the Eagles have managed only 216 yards passing through three games.

DEPTH: Dantonio said there was no reason for the Spartans to play their starters any more than they did in their season-opening victory over Jacksonville State — although there may have been value in keeping players sharp before the Oregon game. The Spartans led Jacksonville State 38-0 at halftime and won 45-7.

If Michigan State has another big lead Saturday, expect younger players to get some opportunities.

“I think it’s critical for young players to get confidence, and the only way you give them confidence is by good things happening on game day,” Dantonio said. “You can get X amount of confidence in practice, but that has to transfer to the game field.”

RECORD PACE: EMU’s Tyler Allen needs 297 yards to break the school’s career mark for kickoff return yardage. Allen should reach that record at some point, although if he starts seriously approaching it against Michigan State, that probably means the game is out of hand.

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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