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Hawkeyes poised for revival in 2014

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Most coaches only get one chance to turn around a program.

Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is poised to revive the Hawkeyes for the third time in 12 years.

Many dismissed Ferentz and the Hawkeyes after a 4-8 finish in 2012. But Iowa answered its critics with eight wins last season, including victories at Minnesota and Nebraska and a trip to the Outback Bowl.

A veteran roster and a favorable schedule should put Iowa in position to contend for the inaugural Big Ten West title in 2014. The Hawkeyes return eight starters on offense, don’t play Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Penn State and host fellow West contenders Wisconsin and Nebraska to end the season.

“It’s going to be fun to actually see what’s going on and what we can do. Bottom line is how we play this year is going to be determined by what we do on the field,” Ferentz said.

Here are five things to watch for as the Hawkeyes try to reach a major bowl just two years removed from missing the postseason — like they did in 2002 and 2009 under Ferentz.

QUARTERBACK DUO: Junior Jake Rudock is back for a second season as the starter after throwing for 2,383 yards and 18 touchdowns. He threw 13 picks as well, so ball security will be one of Rudock’s biggest keys in 2014. The Hawkeyes have also kicked around the idea of using Rudock’s backup, sophomore C.J. Beathard, as a change of pace player designed to give opposing defenses something else to think about. Beathard is arguably more of a running threat than Rudock — though Rudock can be surprisingly nimble himself — but he completed just 9 of 27 passes in a reserve role in 2013.

LINED UP: Iowa’s best teams in the 16-year tenure of Ferentz have always been built from the inside out, which is one of the main reasons there’s so much optimism in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have perhaps the nation’s top lineman in left tackle Brandon Scherff, one of four starters back on the offensive line. The defensive front is led by seniors Carl Davis and Louis Trinca-Pasat, and junior end Drew Ott has All-Big Ten type potential.

WIDE-EYED: The Hawkeyes have plenty of options at wide receiver. But few of them are proven Big Ten wideouts. Beyond senior Kevonte Martin-Manley, Iowa is as unsettled at wide receiver as any position on the roster. Juniors Tevaun Smith and Jacob Hillyer are also listed as starters, but redshirt freshman Derrick Willies could push for one of those spots by the end of the month, and senior Damond Powell is one of the fastest players the Hawkeyes have ever had under Ferentz. “Hopefully it’s a little deeper position than we’ve had in recent years,” Ferentz said.

KEEPING WEISMAN HEALHTY: Converted fullback Mark Weisman has been Iowa’s top option at running back ever since the Hawkeyes turned to him in desperation in 2012. But he’s never been able to stay healthy for a full season, mostly because he still runs like a fullback. So the Hawkeyes will look to preserve the bruising Weisman by limiting his carries and giving more touches to junior Jordan Canzeri and senior Damon Bullock.

BACK AT IT: Iowa will have five new starters at the back end of the defense that ranked ninth in the nation in scoring defense in 2013. But Ferentz is confident that a pair of inexperienced veterans; senior linebacker Quinton Alston and junior safety Jordan Lomax, can help stabilize the defense. “Both those guys give you a good feeling. They worked extremely hard. They’re accepting of the leadership role. They push hard out there,” Ferentz said.

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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