Skip to main content

Northwestern, Minnesota at top of Big Ten?

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It’s not often for there to be a lot on the line when Northwestern and Minnesota meet on the football field.

That there will be on Saturday even after shaky starts by both programs to this season is even more surprising.

Northwestern lost the first two games of the season to Cal and Northern Illinois. Minnesota was tested more than expected in a home win over Middle Tennessee State and then was smoked by TCU almost a month ago.

Both programs are trying to make those starts a distant memory.

The Wildcats have rebounded with impressive victories at Penn State and home against Wisconsin to start out 2-0 in the Big Ten. It’s helped pull them out of a slide that included nine losses in 10 games after a 4-0 start to last season.

The Golden Gophers are coming off a bye week that they entered on the high of a rare victory at Michigan, a 30-14 thumping that brought the Little Brown Jug back to Minnesota for just the second time in 24 meetings.

Both have done it on the ground.

Northwestern (3-2) rushed for 203 yards last week against the Badgers, with true freshman Justin Jackson racking up 162. Jackson ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 79.2 yards rushing per game and is averaging 4.4 carry, but coach Pat Fitzgerald said there is still plenty of room for improvement.

“The overall theme right now with what we’re doing offensively is we’re not finishing plays very well,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s not there yet. The run game is one of the areas where we’re just not finishing blocks. They got a lot of those yards on their own and after contact. That’s encouraging. But we’ve got to finish better.”

The Gophers (4-1, 1-0) are riding running back David Cobb, who is fourth in the Big Ten in rushing. Cobb rushed for 183 yards in the Big House last week, which has helped them overcome an inconsistent passing attack thanks to quarterback Mitch Leidner’s gimpy knee.

“He wants to be really good,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said. “You’ve got to love football and that kid loves football. I think the balance, the strength, and he’s got a knack to get better as the game goes on.”

Here are a few things to watch in the game on Saturday at TCF Bank Stadium:

BEEN AWHILE: A victory over the Gophers would give Northwestern its first 3-0 start in the conference since 2000. The Wildcats went on to win the Big Ten that season, as they did in 1995 and ’96 following 3-0 starts.

FAMILIAR FACES: Minnesota offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover has known Fitzgerald for years. Limegrover was a graduate assistant on the Wildcats coaching staff when Fitzgerald was a standout linebacker, and even though he coached on offense, Limegrover said Fitzgerald made quite an impression. “He’s probably one of the smartest defensive players I’ve ever been around even though I was GA on the other side of the ball and you see that carry over,” Limegrover said.

STOUT D: For the first time in a long time, the Gophers are playing some very good defense. The Gophers are allowing just 19 points per game and have shut their opponents out in 11 of the 20 quarters they have played this season. They have forced 15 turnovers this year, which is second in the Big Ten behind Michigan State’s 16.

IMMEDIATE IMPACT: In his first career start, Northwestern redshirt safety Godwin Igwebuike earned Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Igwebuike had three interceptions against the Badgers, two of which came in the Wildcats end zone to help them hold on for a 20-14 win.

HANDLING SUCCESS: Kill has spent the week making sure his players have put the big victory over Michigan behind them and focused on Northwestern. But the Little Brown Jug is still taking a victory lap. “It’s got appointments,” Kill quipped. “I know I have been told earlier in the week I couldn’t get an appointment, so I think the President (Eric Kaler) overrules the head football coach.”

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