Skip to main content

Williams, Trubisky start QB battle for Tar Heels

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Marquise Williams helped lead North Carolina’s turnaround from a 1-5 start to a winning record and a bowl victory. Now he is competing with a player who has never taken a college snap to remain the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback.

“I’m working for it to be my job,” the junior said Saturday during UNC’s preseason media day. “I’m working to be on the first team. That’s how you have to think. Whatever happens next, happens next.”

The battle between Williams and redshirt freshman Mitch Trubisky is the highest-profile position race for the Tar Heels, who opened preseason camp Friday. The winner will lead a fast-paced spread offense that has put up big numbers in coach Larry Fedora’s first two seasons here.

A year ago, UNC’s line of succession seemed clear. Bryn Renner was entering his third year as a starter with Williams backing him up and the coaches grooming Trubisky to take over in 2014.

But Williams, a Charlotte native, earned rotation duty as a run-pass threat for UNC, then performed well enough to grow his role before Renner went down with a season-ending shoulder injury in November. Williams started the rest of the way and finished the year as UNC’s leading rusher (536 yards, six touchdowns) while throwing for 1,698 yards and 15 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Now the race is a bit more uncertain, though Williams’ experience would seem to give him an advantage. He said he made some of his biggest gains by working to become a better practice player, a transition that Fedora said began after Renner went down.

“You saw that he became a different player in practice,” Fedora said. “There was no more waiting for my time to come. … You saw him lock in, you saw him focus, you saw him do the things you knew he was capable of doing. You hadn’t seen it a bunch. And now that’s what you see — and you saw it from that point on.”

Trubisky, from Mentor, Ohio, said he has focused on becoming a more vocal leader. He figures the quarterback that protects the ball and generates the most explosive plays will win the job.

“I’m going to try to be as prepared as I can when I get called on,” Trubisky said, “if it’s for spurts at a time or over a long period of time. You’ve just got to be ready when your number is called.”

Sophomore receiver Ryan Switzer, who tied an NCAA single-season record with five punt returns for touchdowns, said he thought it was a close race entering camp.

“I’m not a quarterback expert, so as long as that guy is getting me the ball in a good space, I’m OK with it,” Switzer said. “And they’re both doing that right now. I don’t know what the coaches are looking for. I don’t know what separates them, what one does better than the other. I just know it is close.”

Fedora would not say when he will name a starter, pointing out there is a long time until the opener against Liberty on Aug. 30. He also jokingly asked reporters if they had questions about any other positions after an early series of questions about the QB race.

Williams did not seem to mind answering the questions, though.

“We’re pushing each other,” Williams said. “That’s what we need and that’s what I love about the game. I don’t want anything to be handed to me. I want to earn what I deserve.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote