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Clemson’s Swinney proud of team despite record

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has his head held high and believes his Tigers should, too, despite their 1-2 start.

Swinney said Clemson played well and with purpose in a 23-17 overtime loss at No. 1 Florida State last Saturday. Swinney was as frustrated as anyone with the Tigers’ head-scratching mistakes, but thinks there’s a bigger picture to see about where the team is headed this season.

“All I can tell you is, how we played is incredible and the film validates it,” Swinney said Tuesday. “I mean, we played a great football game.”

So what of the two missed field goals, the high snap over quarterback Deshaun Watson’s head just inches from the FSU goal line, the slip of cornerback Mackensie Alexander that led to Rashad Greene’s 74-yard TD catch or the fourth-quarter fumble from C.J. Davidson with Clemson driving for the go-ahead score — any of which had they not happened might’ve lifted the Tigers to victory?

“It’s unfortunate because if you just change one of four or five things, we’re having a different conversion,” he said. “Because of that, I don’t think we can lose sight of that as a coaching staff. I know it’s a bottom-line business and ultimately you would rather win and play bad and correct mistakes from that, but I think we have to understand that our guys played really well.”

Swinney’s challenge is get the Tigers (1-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) playing with similar effort when they face North Carolina (2-1, 0-0) on Saturday night, the first of three straight home games he hopes bring momentum.

The contest also ushers in Watson’s time as starting quarterback. The five-star freshman passer from Gainesville, Georgia was the buzz around campus since he enrolled in January and that anticipation to see him play more has only increased with what he showed so far this year.

Watson had thrown for four of Clemson’s five TDs its first two games. But senior starter Cole Stoudt got pulled after three series down 3-0 to Florida State and it became Watson’s game to win.

He nearly pulled it off. The 6-foot-2 Watson led a pair of touchdown drives and finished 19 of 28 for 266 yards, earning ACC rookie of the week honors and the start against the Tar Heels.

“Of course, it’s going to be exciting, my first game starting in front of all the Clemson fans,” Watson said. “A lot of nerves, but I’ll be ready for it.”

When asked why Watson’s starting, Swinney was blunt: “Did you watch the game Saturday? That’s why.”

Stoudt, the son of former NFL passer Cliff Stoudt, had backed up record-setting passer Tajh Boyd the past three years and had won the job after spring and fall camps. But Swinney said Watson is the most talented newcomer he’s ever had since taking over the Tigers in 2008, a group that included Buffalo Bills’ first-round receiver Sammy Watkins who became an All-American his freshman year.

What sets Watson apart, Swinney said, is his poise, intelligence and leadership at handling the most critical position on the field.

“He’s special,” the coach said. “I’m sure there are going to come times he’ll look like a freshmen, but so far he has not.”

Swinney said that Stoudt, as Watson had done the first three games, would see action against North Carolina. While Stoudt is disappointed, Swinney said the senior has handled things well and continued leading the team and supporting Watson.

“Cole’s a man’s man,” Swinney said. “He’s as class as they come.”

North Carolina coach Larry Fedora knows the Tar Heels, who gave up a record 70 points in losing to No. 23 East Carolina last week, will have their hands full no matter who plays quarterback for Clemson and offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

“I don’t think he’s going to sit there and think, ‘We have to limit what we’re doing because of Deshaun Watson,'” Fedora said.

Swinney said the Tigers must worry about themselves and not get complacent with coming close. “We’re 0-2 versus Clemson, that’s the bottom line. We have to control the things that we can control,” he 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
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