Skip to main content

Vanderbilt quarterback recovering from concussion

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Vanderbilt quarterback Patton Robinette is recovering from a concussion and is questionable for the Commodores’ first road game this season at Kentucky.

“You have to always err on making sure your guy is ready to go,” coach Derek Mason said Tuesday. “Nowadays, with what that position means to you, you need a guy, especially playing in the SEC, that can play at 100 percent. Playing at 85 percent just isn’t good enough, and really when you are talking about concussions you need to be fully passed with something like that.”

The Commodores (1-3, 0-2) were up 14-0 with Robinette starting against then-No. 14 South Carolina, and he apparently got hurt at the end of a 10-yard run just before throwing a touchdown pass last week. Freshman Wade Freebeck replaced Robinette and would start if the redshirt sophomore isn’t cleared.

“People knew exactly what it was,” Mason said. “We’re just looking to see how he comes back. He looked good when I saw him (Monday) and I talked to him this morning, but that’s not up to me. We’ll see what the doctors say about that.”

Robinette also apparently was hurt after starting the season opener, missed a game and came off the bench in the Commodores’ lone win this season on Sept. 13.

He came into this season with the most experience on the roster. Robinette came off the bench to lead rallies to wins against Georgia and at Tennessee, and he was the starter in a rare road win at Florida. In limited play this season, Robinette is 23 of 32 for 240 yards and two touchdowns. He also has run for another TD.

Freebeck was 11 of 20 for 168 yards and a touchdown and an interception in relief against South Carolina.

“They both have great tools, and they both offer different things,” center Joe Townsend said. “You can’t coach experience, and that’s what Patton does have. I feel he’s really good at managing the game. But Wade has all the tools. He’ll be fine.”

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said it will be interesting to see which quarterback plays for Vanderbilt against the Wildcats (2-1, 0-1). Stoops and his coaches are familiar with Freebeck from high school in Davie, Florida.

“He’s going to be a special player,” Stoops said.

The Commodores did rally against South Carolina with Freebeck at quarterback. Trailing 27-21, the Commodores drove from their own 5 down inside the Gamecocks 5 with a chance at taking the lead back. But they settled for a field goal and never got closer the rest of the way.

“As an offensive lineman, that hurt me, and that’s something we can’t accept,” Townsend said. “And I feel like that was a really big momentum shift for them.”

Vanderbilt has been in the midst of a big youth movement in Mason’s first year, playing a combined 31 freshmen with 22 Commodores getting their first starts this season. Robinette’s injuries have forced Mason to play three other quarterbacks, and he said it’s part of college football.

“Hopefully we get a chance to get our leader back,” Mason said.

___

Online:

AP college football website: http://collegefootball.ap.org/

___

Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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