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Purdue hoping to stay on track vs No. 8 Spartans

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL MAROT
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Purdue coach Darrell Hazell has spent two seasons instructing the Boilermakers about winning football.

Apparently, the message is resonating.

The Boilermakers used a solid ground game and stouter defense last weekend to produce their most complete game of Hazell’s tenure. This week, the study sessions have taken longer and required more attention to detail with No. 8 Michigan State coming to town on Saturday.

“They’re very sound and physical and they know how to win,” Hazell said. “We’re going to have to do some things to make sure we take advantage of some of the things they give you, but we cannot make the mistakes we have made in the past.”

Actually, Michigan State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) could serve as the model for what the Boilermakers (3-3, 1-0) hope to build.

The Spartans have one of the best defenses in the nation, a quarterback in Connor Cook who has made great strides in his second season as the starter, an offense capable of grinding it out or airing it out and a Rose Bowl championship. They’re the Big Ten’s last hope for making the inaugural four-team playoff.

But even the Spartans aren’t perfect.

After nearly blowing a double-digit lead at home last week against Nebraska, they’re eager to show everyone they can win on the road. Michigan State’s only other road trip this season resulted in a 46-27 loss at Oregon.

“It will be a change for us,” Spartan coach Mark Dantonio said. “It’s more challenging when you go on the road, and I think you have to rise up to those challenges.”

Dantonio is convinced his team is ready. The question, of course, is whether Purdue can pass its big test Saturday.

“I think we’re playing better football, more sound,” Hazell said. “I think we’re playing with a greater intensity level, and we just need to keep improving.”

Here are some things to watch on Saturday.

LINING UP: Michigan State is averaging four sacks per game this year. Purdue starts three sophomores and two juniors on the offensive line. Even though the Spartans defensive line and the Boilermakers offensive line both average 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, this matchup could dictate how this game is decided.

FIRST-TIMERS: This season has been filled with milestones for Darrell Hazell. For the first time since arriving last season in West Lafayette, Indiana, the Boilermakers have beaten an FBS school, a Big Ten foe and, yes, won a road game. The Boilermakers are hoping to add another feat to Hazell’s list this weekend — his first back-to-back wins at Purdue.

THE STREAK: Meanwhile, the defending Big Ten champs are trying to remain the league’s hottest team. The Spartans won all nine conference games last season, including the league title game, its conference opener season and its season finale in 2012. The 11 consecutive wins against league foes is Michigan State’s longest streak since taking 16 in a row from 1965-67

RUN TO DAYLIGHT: Purdue ran 45 times for 349 yards and four touchdowns last week in the 38-27 win at Illinois, posting their four longest runs of the season. It’s a trend the Boilermakers would like to keep going. A year ago, Purdue rushed for 805 yards all season. This year, they already have 1,020. With quarterback Austin Appleby making his second career start this weekend, a solid ground game could be one of the few things that will give Purdue a chance to pull an upset.

CLOSE CALLS: Michigan State has won five straight in this series, and its 42 wins from 2010-13 was tied for the seventh highest total during a four-year span in conference history. But this series has not been as lopsided as it might appear. Six of the last nine games between the Boilermakers and Spartans have been decided by 10 or fewer points, a point Dantonio has made clear this week to his team.

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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