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Struggling Michigan back home against Penn State

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — This was supposed to be a game Michigan fans could look forward to on an underwhelming home schedule.

A night game at the Big House with Penn State in town. It had all the makings of a memorable evening.

Of course, that was before the Wolverines lost three games in a row, leaving coach Brady Hoke’s future very much in doubt. Now, the talk around Ann Arbor is of empty seats, disillusioned fans and a program struggling to find its footing.

It’s hard to predict what the atmosphere will be like at Michigan Stadium on Saturday night when the Wolverines host the Nittany Lions.

“There is no place in the country like the Big House when it gets rocking. That’s what we’re looking for,” Michigan offensive lineman Jack Miller said. “We’re coming home, the first night game of the year at home, and having a fun night. We’re looking forward to the support from fans and the students, and hopefully, they can give us an extra edge.”

The last time Michigan (2-4, 0-2 Big Ten) played at home, the Wolverines were embarrassed in a 30-14 loss to Minnesota. Quarterback Shane Morris took a hard hit in the fourth quarter but didn’t immediately come out of the game. The school acknowledged more than 48 hours later that he had a probable concussion, and Hoke and athletic director Dave Brandon faced questions about why the situation wasn’t handled better.

Then Michigan went on the road and lost to Big Ten newcomer Rutgers last weekend.

“I thought our guys were united. I thought they played hard together. I think they played and fought,” Hoke said. “Sometimes fighting alone doesn’t get a victory. I think we need to change those results and execute a little better, coach a little better. It always starts with me, and us.”

Penn State (4-1, 1-1) had last weekend off, but the Nittany Lions are also coming off a loss. They were beaten 29-6 by Northwestern on Sept. 27 — and Penn State was not exactly dominant in its other Big Ten game, a 13-10 win over Rutgers.

Here are a few things to watch under the lights in Ann Arbor:

STEPPING UP: Just when it seemed things couldn’t get much worse for Michigan, the Wolverines lost RB Derrick Green to a broken collarbone against Rutgers. Green has averaged 5.7 yards per rush this season, but now fellow sophomore De’Veon Smith may need to play a bigger role.

Smith is averaging 6.0 yards per carry.

“He’s played. He’s been successful and we understand it’s going to be a challenge,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. “You always hate to see a young man get injured and not be able to fulfill his season that he has worked so hard for, but we are going to prepare for the next guy that’s going to take on that role.”

HOMECOMING: Penn State DT Anthony Zettel was a top recruit from Michigan when he left the state to play for the Nittany Lions. He’s tied for second in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with seven.

C.J. Olaniyan, Zettel’s teammate on the defensive line, grew up about 50 miles from the Michigan campus in Warren.

Penn State has allowed 14.6 points per game, the best mark in the Big Ten, and the Nittany Lions are also No. 1 in the conference in rushing defense.

THIRD QUARTER WOES: Some of Michigan’s problems can be traced to what happens immediately after halftime. The Wolverines have lost six of their last seven in Big Ten play, and in those games, they’ve been outscored 44-7 in the third quarter.

PROTECTING THE PASSER: Michigan’s blocking problems have been well documented. The Wolverines have struggled to protect QB Devin Gardner since the latter part of last season. Penn State, however, allowed five sacks in the narrow win at Rutgers and four against Northwestern.

SOPHOMORE SLIP?: Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg threw 20 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions as a freshman last season, but 2014 has been a struggle of late. In the Nittany Lions’ last three games, he’s been sacked 11 times with two interceptions and no TD passes.

“There’s been a lot on his shoulders, and it’s always easy to find fault when things don’t go well,” Franklin said. “Christian is growing just like we’re all growing, and I’ve been pleased with it. So, I think obviously at the quarterback position and a lot of positions, we want to continue to make great choices and make good decisions with the football.”

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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