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Still on run, but Badgers look to spice up offense

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Coach Gary Andersen is thinking about spicing up the Wisconsin offense this fall.

Fans of Wisconsin’s power-running game need not worry — things aren’t changing that much in Madison. Running back Melvin Gordon remains the star attraction.

But Andersen would like to give opposing defenses something more to think about given the attention expected to be heaped on 1,600-yard rusher Gordon. Wisconsin isn’t going vogue and turning into a spread team, but Andersen said he’s looking at working in “dynamics” of the spread as part of the offense.

“We have pieces of that … and they did it with Russell,” Andersen said in a recent interview at Camp Randall Stadium, referring to former Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson. He played under Andersen’s predecessor, Bret Bielema.

Power and zone inside runs are still very much in the playbook. The fly sweep — perhaps Gordon’s signature play — isn’t going anywhere.

But spread looks may offer more options running outside the tackles. Or maybe Wisconsin runs more play action off run formations; or use more spread run and pass plays out of different personnel groups.

But it is one thing to have a future NFL quarterback like Wilson — who won the Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks — operating your offense.

This season’s Badgers will likely be led by either Tanner McEvoy, a quarterback-turned-safety who returned to quarterback in spring ball; or incumbent Joel Stave, whose 2013 season ended with a shoulder injury at the Capital One Bowl.

The injury lingered into March and limited Stave in the spring. Andersen said this week that Stave returned for summer workouts and had pronounced himself ready to go.

If Wisconsin sticks with Stave, Andersen hopes to see improvement from last season’s inconsistent campaign. Stave had nine touchdowns and seven interceptions in his last six games, while defenses focused more on the running game during that stretch.

The regular-season finale at Camp Randall Stadium exemplified the ups and downs in a 31-24 loss to Penn State. Stave threw for 339 yards and three touchdowns, but also had three interceptions. Gordon and backfield mate James White were each held to 91 yards or less on the ground.

White is gone, as is top receiver Jared Abbrederis. Injuries hit the Badgers hard this spring at receiver, which is relatively young or inexperienced.

But Wisconsin has experience returning on the offensive line, along with Gordon and Corey Clement at running back. At quarterback, McEvoy’s strength lies with his mobility.

“Doesn’t matter who the quarterback is, we want you … to account for that quarterback,” Andersen said.

The broad goal appears to be keeping defenses thinking and taking more time to prepare for different things during the week. It would ideally give Gordon — who is a threat to score on any carry — more opportunities for big plays.

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Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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