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Mississippi State confident after win vs. LSU

By WTOP Staff

DAVID BRANDT
AP Sports Writer

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen was a man in a good mood earlier this week, bouncing up the stairs on his way to a speaking engagement in the state’s capital city.

He didn’t hesitate to shake hands with well-wishers when he came through the door, laughing as he walked into a large room packed with football fans from several different schools.

“I’m sure the State fans are going to be sitting up a little taller with their heads a little higher,” Mullen said.

These are good days for the Bulldogs, who are still celebrating arguably the biggest victory of Mullen’s six-year tenure. Mississippi State knocked off No. 8 LSU 34-29 on Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dominating for most of the evening until a final Tigers’ flurry made it close in the final minutes.

The win ended a 14-game losing streak against LSU dating back to 1999.

It also earned Mississippi State (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) some national and league respect. The Bulldogs jumped from an unranked program to No. 14 in the Associated Press poll and now have a signature win to back up their goal of competing for a title in the SEC’s loaded Western Division.

The Bulldogs have a few extra days to enjoy the LSU victory because of a bye week. They’ll host Texas A&M on Oct. 4 in another crucial league showdown.

Mullen says he’ll be keeping a close eye on his team’s demeanor over the next two weeks.

“We’ll see how they handle it,” Mullen said. “That’s the most important thing to me. In the locker room after the game our guys were fired up, they were excited and there was a great sense of accomplishment getting that win. But it wasn’t a shock.”

One reason Mississippi State is starting to expect good things is the consistently spectacular play of quarterback Dak Prescott.

The 6-foot-2, 229-pound junior was named the league’s co-offensive player of the week on Monday after throwing for 268 yards and two touchdowns while also running for 105 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Tigers.

But the performance of the Bulldogs’ offensive line and junior running back Josh Robinson was an eye-opener, even for Mullen.

The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Robinson ran for a career-high 197 yards and a touchdown while averaging a stunning 12.3 yards per carry. There were moments it seemed like half the LSU defense was hanging off of his No. 13 jersey before he finally went to the ground.

“The yards after contact were huge — he turned some small runs into bigger plays,” Mullen said. “To me, that is what really kept us going, turning 5-yard runs into 12-yard runs. Those are things that allowed us to pick up the tempo, go faster on offense and control the line of scrimmage.”

Robinson was a backup the previous two seasons behind LaDarius Perkins. But he’s excelled in the feature role so far this fall, with 485 rushing yards and four touchdowns.

“He always comes with a great attitude and I always knew he had the talent,” Mullen said. “What you’re seeing is him maturing as a player. That’s the most important thing. He’s got to be a guy who does it right every single day and doesn’t just rely on talent.”

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Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP

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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