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Wisconsin QB spot open on first day of camp

By WTOP Staff

JIM HOEHN
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Despite the return of starter Joel Stave, Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen has made it clear that there is a two-person competition for quarterback as the Badgers opened training camp Monday.

Stave, who started all 13 games and guided the Badgers to a 9-4 record last season, is being challenged by dual threat Tanner McEvoy, who eventually started three games at safety last season after moving from quarterback to wide receiver.

The Badgers, who open the season Aug. 30 against LSU at Houston, held split-squad practices Monday with two different groups of players. Stave practiced in the morning with the bulk of the first-team offense, while McEvoy took part in the afternoon session with inexperienced receivers and a young offensive line.

“We will switch, especially at the quarterback spot. You’ll see that the offensive line that we had in the afternoon was all young guys. That’s pretty difficult against some veteran defensive players,” Andersen said. “The quarterbacks need to rotate just in fairness for them for their ability to be able to compete.”

Both quarterbacks are juniors and similar in size. Stave is listed at 6-foot-5, 220, while McEvoy is 6-6, 222. That’s where the similarity ends, however. Stave is perceived to have the stronger arm and more of a pocket passer, while McEvoy is more mobile and more of a threat to run.

And, it’s not as if Stave had a dismal 2013 season. His 336 pass attempts were a single-season school record and the 208 completions was third highest. Stave’s 22 touchdown passes were second most in school history, trailing only Russell Wilson, who led the Seattle Seahawks to the Super Bowl title. His 2,494 passing yards were the fifth-best all-time and most by a sophomore.

But, he also threw 13 interceptions and missed open receivers in several key situations, which he acknowledged in the team’s media day last week.

“You can always be more consistent,” said Stave, who also started six games as a freshman. “I’ve made very good throws and also missed throws that you just can’t miss. So that’s how the game goes. There’s going to be ups and downs. You’re not always going to be perfect. That’s always the goal, you’re going to want to strive to be perfect and just play consistently at a high level.”

McEvoy, started his career at South Carolina and then transferred to Arizona Western College, where he ran a spread offense. After losing out in the quarterback battle at Wisconsin last fall to Stave and backup Curt Phillips, McEvoy played wide receiver in the Badgers opener against Massachusetts. After a wrist injury that required surgery, McEvoy was moved to safety for the final 10 games, including three starts.

“Last year was obviously my first year,” McEvoy said on media day. “I mean it’s no excuse, but it’s something different. This year, my second year, I know the offense a little better. I had a spring under my belt. That’s really the main difference.”

The staff also is keeping an eye on Stave’s right shoulder, which he injured in the Badgers 34-24 loss to South Carolina in the Capitol One Bowl. Soreness in the same shoulder forced him to miss the final week of spring practice.

Andersen said he has been involved in similar quarterback situations before and admitted it’s not an exact science in making a final decision.

“I’ve been in a couple of them, really only one as a head coach,” Andersen said. “If I look at that one, I couldn’t even really tell you what I felt like separated them, other than the things that I’ve talked about. The ability to manage, the ability to move the team, the ability of the team believing in the kid behind there.”

“I don’t what the final identification or the factor is, but we’ll just keep going through it.”

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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