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Vandy takes SEC break, hosts Charleston Southern

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores are a young team trying to grow up in a hurry, playing with a freshman at quarterback while Patton Robinette heals up from a concussion.

In other words, a team that can’t take any game for granted. Not even if Saturday night is homecoming, and Charleston Southern comes from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“They are a 5-0 football team, we’re a 1-5 football team,” Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason said. “Football is football.”

Mason is trying to get his young Commodores to focus on doing all the little details correctly.

Wade Freebeck is expected to start his third straight game with Vanderbilt back home from a two-game road swing through the Southeastern Conference. The Commodores are coming off a 44-17 loss at Georgia and have lost three straight.

“Our margin of error is slim,” Mason said. “We are a football team that is working extremely hard to play better.”

Charleston Southern may be FCS, but the Buccaneers are ranked by the coaches. They are 5-0 for a second straight year and are coming off an open date following a 47-41 overtime win on the road at Charlotte. This will be their first of two road games this season against SEC teams and just the third in the program’s history.

Bucs coach Jamey Chadwell said they are trying to treat this like every other game but aren’t dumb.

“Our kids know we’re playing an SEC team and we’re on TV and that doesn’t happen a lot so I’m sure we’re going to be a little bit more geeked up,” Chadwell said.

Chadwell also isn’t dismissing the Commodores based on their record either. He said Vanderbilt lost to now No. 3 Mississippi and Georgia.

“The cool thing is you get to go and hopefully play your best and see if it’s good enough,” Chadwell said. “That’s how we approach it.”

___

Here are some things to watch Saturday night:

MORE SIMS: Darrius Sims has scored the most points for Vanderbilt this season, and he finally caught a pass on offense in the loss at Georgia. But Mason wants Sims to touch the ball at least five times a game along with some other players like wide receiver C.J. Duncan and tight end Steven Scheu, who’s the team’s leading receiver with 18 catches for 262 yards.

SLOW STARTS: Vanderbilt has scored in the first quarter only once this season, taking a 14-0 lead against South Carolina on Sept. 20. That was with Robinette playing before he left with a concussion that has kept the Vanderbilt quarterback sidelined since then. The Commodores have been outscored 59-0 in the other five games combined, and Mason said they have to create their own energy. “It’s a slim margin of error,” he said. “We have to make plays that are there to be made.”

TRIPLE OPTION: The Buccaneers run the triple option and do it very well. They run for an average 215.2 yards per game and ran for a season-high 333 yards on 61 rushes at Charlotte. Charleston Southern also can throw a little bit too. Austin Brown completed 17 of his last 18 passes for 216 yards and two TDs in the win at Charlotte as the Bucs threw for 284 yards in that game.

CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Ralph Webb is averaging 83.2 yards rushing per game for Vanderbilt, and he ranks sixth in the SEC and leads all freshmen. He already ranks seventh for most yards rushing by a freshman at Vanderbilt.

FCS SUCCESS: Vanderbilt is 16-1 against teams from the FCS level since 1978 when the NCAA created the I-AA class later renamed the FCS. The Commodores beat Austin Peay 38-3 last season in their last game against an FCS 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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