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Hoke hoping Michigan establishes tough identity

By WTOP Staff

LARRY LAGE
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan hired Brady Hoke to turn its program around, and the coach is still trying to get it back on track heading into his fourth season.

“The identity of this team is still one that we’re developing and trying to develop,” Hoke said Sunday during his news conference at media day.

And Hoke is anxious to see some improved results on the field after two straight lackluster seasons.

“There were a lot of depth issues that we’ve had,” he said. “That’s not an excuse because here are no excuses. No. 1, we’ve got to do a better job at what we’re doing.”

The Wolverines lost five of their last six games last year, prompting Hoke to fire offensive coordinator Al Borges, hire Doug Nussmeier and shuffle his staff on defense.

Michigan maintains its goal is to win a Big Ten championship, a trophy the school has not earned in a decade.

“The expectations never change,” Hoke said. “If you lower the bar, ever, I think you’re making a mistake.”

Hoke’s boss, athletic director Dave Brandon, said it would be a mistake to say it’s a make or break year for a coach with three years left on his six-year contract.

“I don’t think it is a pivotal year,” Brandon said Sunday in an interview with The Associated Press. “It is another year to make progress and show growth with more recruits who are the type of athletes he wants for his style of play.”

Hoke had 11 victories in 2011, went 8-5 the next year and 7-6 last season, but Brandon said Hoke is having success in other ways as the Wolverines’ leader.

“Sadly, there are people who only care about wins and losses,” Brandon said. “Part of Brady’s job description is to teach life lessons that help young men become successful in life, and he’s doing a great job at that.”

Will Hagerup would agree perhaps more than any other current player.

The 2012 All-Big Ten punter is eligible to play this season after sitting out all of last year following a suspension for violating unspecified team rules.

“The biggest thing coach Hoke did was set aside football when he said to me, ‘I’m not speaking to you as a coach. I’m speaking to you as a mentor and as a person who has gone through things in my life,'” Hagerup recalled. “That was so huge for me.”

Michigan defensive coordinator Greg Mattison said what Hoke has done since he was hired Jan. 11, 2011, has been “unbelievable,” including going 69 for 69 on graduating seniors.

“All you hear about in today’s world is how dysfunctional some of the kids are and how we cheat the athletes,” Mattison said. “Every senior that has come through here since we got here has graduated.”

Michigan, though, expects to win on the field as well as in the classroom, and there seems to be a position group that might make that a challenge this season.

The Wolverines are replacing two senior tackles on their offensive line, including first-round pick Taylor Lewan, and have not settled on a starting five. If some inexperienced players emerge and turn potential into production quickly, Hoke might get what he is looking for this year.

“I want it to be a football team that can run the football and have a toughness at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” he said. “I think the identity part of it is a toughness that this program has had for many years. That’s part of what I’m looking for and believe me, it’s been verbalized enough to the players.”

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Follow Larry Lage on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/larrylage

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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