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Georgia Tech looking to surpass low expectations

By WTOP Staff

CHARLES ODUM
AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Paul Johnson’s first two years at Georgia Tech are looking better and better — and increasingly distant in the past.

Since winning a combined 20 games in 2008 and 2009, Georgia Tech has averaged seven wins the last four years. The Yellow Jackets, looking for their first Top 25 finish since 2009, are trying to end an ugly streak of five straight losses to state rival Georgia.

Johnson points to recent high finishes in the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coastal Division as evidence criticism of his program is unwarranted. Georgia Tech has never finished lower than third in the division in Johnson’s six years.

The league’s media picked Georgia Tech to finish only fifth in the division this year.

The Yellow Jackets finished 7-6 overall and 5-3 in the ACC last year. Georgia Tech lost three of its last four games, including a Music City Bowl loss to Mississippi.

Justin Thomas is expected to replace quarterback Vad Lee, who transferred to James Madison. The running game should be strong as usual in Johnson’s spread-option attack.

There are questions on both lines.

“We’ve got replace a lot of experience on the offensive line,” Johnson said. “So there are question marks. I can see why people would question (the team’s potential).

“Are we going to be the most talented team that we’ve had here individually? Probably not. But that doesn’t mean you’re not going to be the best team. You just have to see.”

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Here are five things to watch for when the Yellow Jackets open the season Aug. 30:

A STRONG START: Georgia Tech opens with nonconference games against Wofford, at Tulane and against Georgia Southern. There is potential to establish momentum before an ACC opener at Virginia Tech, but the visit from Georgia Southern could be interesting. Georgia Southern, moving up to Division I-A, upset Florida last season. Johnson won two I-AA national championships while coaching at Georgia Southern from 1997-2001 as well as two more as an assistant in the 1980s. This will be the first meeting between the state rivals.

NEW NAMES ON D-LINE: Junior tackle Adam Gotsis, a native of Australia, is the lone returning starter. Gotsis had 14.4 tackles for losses, including 5.5 sacks, as a sophomore in 2013. Among the players who must be replaced are ends Jeremiah Attaochu, a second-round pick by the Chargers, and Emmanuel Dieke, who was invited to the Giants’ camp. Tackle Euclid Cummings moved on as well. Defensive end Kenderius Whitehead, a transfer from Georgia Military (Junior) College, must sit out the season. Whitehead began his career at N.C. State. Defensive end Jabari Hunt-Days, a converted linebacker, was declared ineligible for the season.

THOMAS TAKES OVER: Johnson experimented with the shotgun, including a diamond formation, with Lee last year. He said it will be back to basics with Thomas under center. Johnson said he is determined his offense again will be efficient in the triple-option plays which make Georgia Tech one of the nation’s top rushing teams. Thomas (5-11, 185) is small but could pile up big gains with his speed. Tim Byerly, a more physical runner, is the top backup.

DEPTH AT RUNNING BACK: Senior Zach Laskey looks to be the leader of a deep corps of running backs. Laskey, who lines up behind Thomas in the B-back position, said he worked on trimming fat and adding muscle after running for 485 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He has almost 1,200 career yards rushing. Synjyn Days, a converted quarterback, moved into a starting role in the middle of his 2013 junior season. He can play as a B-back or one of the two A-backs who line up outside. Johnson must replace Robert Godhigh and David Sims, the team’s leading rushers last season.

CONTINUITY ON DEFENSE: The defense should benefit from a second year with coordinator Ted Roof, who last year brought back a 4-3 look. Georgia Tech shut out Elon and Syracuse last year but gave up more than 30 points in losses to Miami, BYU, Clemson and Georgia.

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Follow Charles Odum on Twitter: http://twitter.com/CharlesOdum

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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