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Minnesota needs to ramp up passing game

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota quarterback Chris Streveler walked into class on Monday after the victory against San Jose State and the teasing began.

“Hey, Strev,” they cracked, “nice completion.”

In his first collegiate start, Streveler completed just one pass in his seven attempts. That’s it.

The Golden Gophers didn’t exactly resemble a modern, cutting-edge offense against the Spartans, but they did churn out 380 yards on the ground to grind out a win.

As encouraging as the ground game was, including Streveler’s 161 yards, the Gophers coaches know they can’t rely on that exclusively when Big Ten play begins Saturday at Michigan.

“Probably not,” offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover said. “We’ve got to get better. When we do throw the football, we’ve got to get better. I’m not going to say we need to throw it more. But when we do, we need to make sure that it’s spot on.”

Streveler, a redshirt freshman, got the start last week after Mitch Leidner went down with a left knee injury and turf toe on his left foot. Gopher coach Jerry Kill said Tuesday that Leidner is questionable for the game against the Wolverines (2-2), but all indications were that Streveler would be back under center in the Big House.

When Streveler walked into the Gophers’ team room to meet the media, senior defensive lineman Cameron Botticelli jabbed him with a “make way for the starting quarterback” crack. Streveler side-stepped questions about starting on Saturday, but said he will be ready if he’s called upon.

“I don’t know, what does the starting quarterback feel like?” Streveler said. “I feel like myself. I don’t feel any different than I did last week.”

Streveler took the passing game’s struggles in stride, posting a photo on Twitter of him with his arms outstretched that said “This is me wondering why I haven’t completed a pass yet.”

It was easy for him to laugh it off when David Cobb rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and Streveler got into the end zone on a 1-yard plunge.

But it will be tougher this week against Michigan, which despite the turmoil it is facing ranks first in the Big Ten and eighth in the country in total defense. The Wolverines are allowing just 80.3 yards rushing per game.

“We did what it takes to win a game,” Kill said. “We certainly prepare to throw the ball as much as we can in the situations that dictate it. But we’re smart enough to know we’re going to have to do some good things in the throwing game to be able to win on Saturday and also not turn it over when you do it. So there’s a two-fold thing there.”

Tight end Maxx Williams missed the game last week and is doubtful to play against Michigan.

But Streveler knows what it feels like to start in college and has the routine of preparation down. And even though he only completed one pass last weekend, he’s not lacking in confidence heading into one of college football’s most famous venues.

“I’m a little more confident, but I don’t think confidence was ever really an issue for me or the team going in,” Streveler said. “It’s always good to just say you have your first start under your belt and kind of go through the process of the week of going in as the starter and preparing for the game as the starter. I wouldn’t say it’s confidence, but it’s good to have that under my belt.”

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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