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Oklahoma State confident in presumed starter Walsh

By WTOP Staff

JOHN TRANCHINA
Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — J.W. Walsh hasn’t been declared the starting quarterback yet, though the junior is clearly the front-runner for the job and his coach and teammates are expecting big things from him this season.

After winning the top job last year with his performance in Oklahoma State’s opener, Walsh was replaced after five starts by the since-graduated Clint Chelf. But as well as he played at times in 2013, when he passed for 1,333 yards and nine touchdowns, it’s easy to forget Walsh is still relatively inexperienced.

But with another offseason of training and maturity, he seems more assured and ready to lead the offense for the Cowboys. OSU coach Mike Gundy expects nothing less.

“J.W. still hasn’t played one full season, and he will continue to get better and develop as the season goes on,” said Gundy, whose team finished 10-3 and was ranked 17th last year. “He’ll play better this year than what he played last year. We certainly expect that and it’s our responsibility to put him in that position where he can perform and play at a high level.”

Still, Gundy would not name Walsh the starter for the Cowboys’ 2014 opener on Aug. 30 in the Cowboys Classic at AT&T Stadium in Dallas against defending national champion Florida State.

“It’s a very good possibility” that OSU will use multiple QBs this year, Gundy said.

Besides Walsh, the other candidates to line up at QB for Oklahoma State this season are freshman Mason Rudolph, who may end up being red-shirted, and Daxx Garman, a junior who transferred from Arizona.

Gundy said he wasn’t sure if they would see game action.

“We’ll just have to see how it all plays out and how those guys develop,” he said. “I watched (Rudolph) a bit today and thought he was considerably better than he was when we finished in the spring.”

If more than one quarterback does end up taking meaningful snaps this season, it would mark the third straight year that Oklahoma State had multiple signal callers, as Walsh and Chelf also split time in 2012 with then-senior Wes Lunt.

“Our quarterback situation this year is a little different than it’s been in the past in that we vary our offensive style based on who’s in the game, because they’re different,” Gundy said. “And we expect that player, that style, to perform at a level where we can move the ball and score points.”

While Walsh will not be available to talk to the media until the season opener, his receivers spoke for him, expressing confidence in the junior QB from Denton, Texas.

“J.W. is a heck of an athlete. He’s matured as a player since he got here, and as a person overall,” said junior receiver David Glidden, who caught 15 passes for 173 yards last year. “He was a leader when he got here, but now everyone looks up to him. He does something, he says something, and everyone’s going to do exactly what he says. I think his improvements are being made every day, and he’s looked great to me so far.”

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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