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Ex-Gators face off in BC’s visit to NC State

By WTOP Staff

JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Leaving Florida has worked out pretty well for both Jacoby Brissett and Tyler Murphy.

The ex-Gators quarterbacks have led their new schools to big things and now they’re preparing to face off for the first time Saturday when North Carolina State (4-2, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) plays host to Boston College (3-2, 0-1).

“We’ve both been looking forward to this,” BC’s Murphy said. “Neither of us wants to lose. It’s almost like playing your brother in one-on-one basketball — you never want to lose to your brother.

“So this is a big game for both of us as well as our programs and teams,” he added. “If we want to take a step in the right direction we need this.”

They were teammates at Florida in 2011 and ’12 but the only one of them to start a game during that time was Brissett — who made three starts during those two seasons and none after the 2012 opener.

He transferred to N.C. State and sat out the 2013 season. Murphy made a handful of starts for the Gators last year but transferred to BC following the program’s first losing season since 1979.

“It is weird because we both were on the same team and now we’re playing against each other,” Brissett said. “But it’ll be fun for both programs. Both programs are coming out to make a statement and both of us need ACC wins.”

They’ve both done some rather memorable things for their new schools.

Brissett ranks fourth in the ACC in total offense, averaging nearly 262 yards, and threw for 359 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-41 loss to top-ranked Florida State.

Murphy is the Eagles’ leading rusher and passer, and led them to a 37-31 upset of then-No. 9 Southern California.

“I don’t think anybody can say that we’re not looking at a really competitive football team right now that’s not capable of playing really well at times,” BC coach Steve Addazio said.

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Some things to watch for when Boston College visits North Carolina State on Saturday:

FIRST TRIP: The visit to Raleigh marks BC’s first trip outside the state of Massachusetts this year. The Eagles’ only game away from their suburban Boston campus came in the opener against UMass at the New England Patriots’ stadium. “We have to go on the road for the first time this season with a young group,” Addazio said. “We have to handle the crowd and the noise and just everything that comes with being out of your comfort zone on the road. Our challenges are there for us, but we’re looking forward to it.”

BOUNCING BACK: Both teams are coming off losses that were disappointing for different reasons. BC hasn’t played since a 24-21 home loss to Colorado State two weeks ago while the Wolfpack were embarrassed in a 41-0 loss at Clemson. N.C. State coach Dave Doeren called it “a great learning experience” and added that “the last thing we want to put on film is something like that.”

HE’S THE BAUMANN: It’s not often a good sign when a punter is making headlines but N.C. State’s Will Baumann leads the ACC and ranks second in the Bowl Subdivision with an average of 48 yards per punt. That would set an ACC record if the season ended today. He had plenty of chances to pad that number last week, punting nine times against Clemson — more than he did in N.C. State’s first three games combined.

OLD EAGLES: BC lists five graduate students as its starters on the offensive line. That’s OK for now — but it could be a big problem next year when Addazio has to replace them all. He says the roster “is out of whack” because “we’ve got too many older linemen and nothing in between.” But he praised the current Eagles because “the resiliency of our kids is a credit to them that we are still in the winning mode even while we’re doing this.”

HOME SWEET HOME: This Atlantic Division series has been dominated by the home teams lately: The last visiting team to win was BC, which won in Raleigh in 2008. The biggest reason for the Eagles’ victory last year in Boston — running back Andre Williams, who rushed for an ACC-record 339 yards — is with the New York Giants.

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AP Sports Writers Aaron Beard in Raleigh and Jimmy Golen in Boston contributed to this report.

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Follow Joedy McCreary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joedyap

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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