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Cyclones set sights on winning bowl game

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Even Iowa State knows that it probably won’t win the Big 12 this year.

The Cyclones just want to win a bowl game.

Iowa State went to three bowls in its first four years under coach Paul Rhoads. But the Cyclones fell apart last season, losing seven straight Big 12 games and finishing 3-9 — by far their worst mark for Rhoads.

Iowa State has predictably been picked to finish ninth in the 10-team league, ahead of only Kansas. But Rhoads has set the bar at a postseason victory, which the Cyclones have achieved just once under Rhoads and three times in school history.

“It’s an expectation that I place on our program on a yearly basis, and you don’t back off that,” Rhoads said. “I don’t think there is a lot of people (in the media) that think that’s possible. But that’s OK. We’re working every day to get there.”

There are some reasons to believe that the Cyclones can be better than most people think.

They’ve brought in Mark Mangino, one of the brightest offensive minds in Big 12 history, to revamp an attack that was held to 21 points or less six times last season. The former Kansas coach and Oklahoma offensive coordinator will have the luxury of using a returning starter at every spot if he chooses. Whoever starts at quarterback should have plenty of options in the passing game.

But Iowa State will enter the season with major question marks on defense, which was shredded for 39.6 points a game in league games a year ago.

Here are five of the biggest story lines for the Cyclones entering 2014.

QB CAROUSEL: Iowa State has listed three quarterbacks; Grant Rohach, Sam Richardson and Joel Lanning, as potential starters. But the competition will likely come down to Rohach and Richardson, and most expect Rohach to start when the Cyclones open against North Dakota State on Aug. 30. Rohach was 40 of 59 passing with six TDs in the last two games of 2013, though he faced two of the league’s worst defenses in Kansas and West Virginia. Richardson opened last season as the starter, but injuries and poor offensive line play limited his progress. “It’s about making smart decisions and taking shots when shots need to be taken and taking care of the ball,” Rohach said.

PASSING GAME: The Cyclones have two of the better pass catchers in the Big 12 in tight end E.J. Bibbs, the only Iowa State player to be named preseason first-team All-Big 12 by the media, and wide receiver Quenton Bundrage. Iowa State also expects big things out of speedy senior Jarvis West in both the passing and return game, and incoming freshman receiver Allen Lazard is one of the biggest recruits in school history.

FRONT SEVEN: The progress of Iowa State’s defensive front seven could determine whether it can reach a bowl game or not. Seniors Cory Morrissey and Brandon Jensen are expected to anchor an inexperienced defensive line, and sophomore Luke Knott should be a bright spot at linebacker if he can stay healthy.

SECONDARY: Iowa State’s coaching staff is high on sophomore cornerback Nigel Tribune, who should start alongside Sam E. Richardson. But the Cyclones will have a pair of new starters at safety, with T.J. Mutcherson expected to be the guy at strong safety and redshirt freshman Kamari Cotton-Moya slotted as the favorite at free safety.

SCHEDULE: The round-robin scheduling of the Big 12 typically leaves Iowa State with one of the nation’s toughest schedules — and this year’s slate is a doozy. North Dakota State has won three straight national titles, and the Cyclones host Kansas State in the second week of the season before playing at Iowa, an early favorite in the Big Ten West. But Rhoads is at least pleased with the spacing of Iowa State’s byes, which come in mid-September, late October and mid-November.

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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