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Syracuse hosts Maryland aiming to go 3-0

By WTOP Staff

JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse has seen what it can do with quarterback Terrel Hunt in the lineup for an entire game and what it can’t do when he’s not.

The Orange will take the former any day. So, too, will Hunt, who last week guided Syracuse to a 40-3 road victory over Central Michigan after starting the season by getting ejected in what turned into a nail-biting, one-point win in double overtime against Villanova.

“CMU was really an important game for me,” said Hunt, who scored the game’s last three touchdowns and completed 20 of 30 passes for 175 yards and a TD. “I was more focused on just getting the win rather than anything else. I felt I let my team down. I just wanted to go out there and make sure we did what we had to do, and that everything was perfect.”

“He played well and he needs to do that,” coach Scott Shafer said.

Hunt gets his next chance on Saturday when Syracuse (2-0) welcomes Maryland (2-1) to the Carrier Dome seeking to start a season with three straight victories for the first time this century.

The last time the Orange accomplished that was way back in 1991, the first year of the Paul Pasqualoni era.

Terps coach Randy Edsall more than likely remembers that. A former quarterback for the Orange, he was an assistant at his alma mater under Dick MacPherson before leaving to coach at Boston College the year before Coach P took over.

“We are playing a 2-0 football team that is coming off of a big win over Central Michigan,” Edsall said. “We are going up to a place where it is tough to play, and, hopefully, we can put together the consistency that we need in all three phases.

“I don’t think we’ve had a game where we’ve hit on all three cylinders and all three phases. I know it’s going to come.”

___

Some things to know when Maryland tries to hit those three phases at Syracuse:

LIVING DANGEROUSLY: Maryland also could easily have a perfect slate, but the Terps have been living on the edge. They committed six turnovers in a 24-17 win over South Florida, then allowed West Virginia a whopping 694 yards in offense before losing 40-37 last week on a 47-yard field goal as time expired.

RUN BY COMMITTEE: The Syracuse ground game generated 242 yards in a 20-3 victory over Maryland last year at Byrd Stadium. Look for more of the same. Against Central Michigan, six Syracuse players had at least four carries, led by Adonis Ameen-Moore’s 106 yards on nine rushes. “I feel bad for some of our running backs because they might only get a few carries a game,” offensive tackle Sean Hickey said.

WILL HE OR WON’T HE: Wes Brown, Maryland’s leading rusher in its first two games with 142 yards on 26 carries, did not play last week against West Virginia. After the game, Edsall called it a coach’s decision on Brown, who was suspended all of last season.

DEFENSIVE WOES: Maryland’s defense sure could use a boost — West Virginia had 511 passing yards last week and Maryland allowed 302 yards in a 52-7 win over James Madison to open the season — and linebacker Yannik Cudjoe-Virgil might be ready to offer one. Cudjoe-Virgil missed the first three games of the season with a foot injury but was back at practice this week and Edsall said he looked good.

BY THE NUMBERS: Syracuse linebacker Cameron Lynch leads the ACC with 11.5 tackles per game and the Orange are one of only four teams that have not allowed a sack. Baylor, Texas Tech and New Mexico State are the others.

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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