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RB Melvin Gordon takes leading role at Wisconsin

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Melvin Gordon jumped in front of the pack of running backs getting ready for a group picture to strike a muscular pose for the cameras.

Wisconsin’s star junior always seems like he’s a couple steps ahead of the competition.

A season of high expectations is nearly here for Gordon, the 1,600-yard rusher assuming a new role with the Badgers that has nothing to do with his exceptional ability to run the ball. It’s time for Gordon to take on more of a leadership role in Madison.

Disregard the media day fun that Gordon had Friday with his teammates. In actuality, Gordon leaves that flash on the field for when real games begin.

“To this point, I couldn’t be more proud of the way he handles this team, the expectations of this team that he’ll be able to show as we continue to grow,” coach Gary Andersen said at Camp Randall Stadium.

Gordon, the nation’s second-leading returning rusher, is the unquestioned star on a team that took heavy personnel losses from 2013. When camp begins Monday, the Badgers will be without 13 starters from last season, most notably linebacker Chris Borland, receiver Jared Abbrederis and running back James White.

Gordon looked up to White, who is now in the NFL with the New England Patriots. Now Gordon is ready to help his talented backup, sophomore Corey Clement, take on a bigger role in the offense.

“Now I have to grow up and I’m ready for the challenge,” Gordon said. “James took me under his wing; it’s only right I do the same thing to Corey.”

Gordon’s success will be important in determining the fate of the Badgers, who are a favorite to win the newly-realigned Big Ten West division.

There are some unsettled issues, though, starting at a familiar position. Wisconsin is once again beginning the year with a quarterback competition, with incumbent Joel Stave facing a challenge from dual-threat junior Tanner McEvoy.

Stave, who suffered a shoulder injury at the Capital One Bowl in January that lingered into spring practice, is ready to go for preseason camp.

“I like where those two kids are battling,” Andersen said. “It will be interesting to see where those two kids go in the process.”

Eight starters are gone on defense, with the front seven suffering the heaviest losses. Andersen and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda have tweaked the scheme to add flexibility and more speed.

The change in part is to help compensate for the increase of spread looks in the college game.

“We feel like we’re going to be faster. We feel like we have the ability to run well. We’ve got some athleticism,” Andersen said.

But not as much experience. Andersen realizes that is one of the lingering questions about this year’s team — and it might be a reason he described his team in part as “edgy” headed into training camp.

“The bottom line is that there (are) a lot of question marks,” he said. “I don’t discount that at all. … If I was a player, I would be a little edgy if I heard that.”

Gordon is about as close as the Badgers have for what qualifies as a certainty. The nation’s active career leader in rushing average (8.1 yards per carry) bypassed a chance to enter the NFL draft to return to school.

Don’t expect to see Gordon slacking off any time soon.

“When (younger players) see you slacking … they might think it’s OK to slack, too, when it’s not,” Gordon said. “You have to be leader. You have to understand, and you have to have a Grade-A performance in whatever you do.”

___

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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