Skip to main content

Heisman repeat won’t be easy for FSU’s Winston

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston has the opportunity to accomplish what only one other player has achieved — win the Heisman Trophy twice.

Twenty-three underclassmen have won the award, but Ohio State running back Archie Griffin was the only one to pull off the feat.

He is shocked that he remains the lone double winner since the award’s inception in 1935. Until recently, the majority of winners were seniors or juniors that could turn pro. But five of the last seven winners have been sophomores or redshirt freshmen.

Griffin, the Heisman trophy winner in 1974 and 1975, believes it is more difficult to win the award in back-to-back years than it was 40 years ago. For him, the off-the-field distractions were more stressful than any defense.

“I’ll never forget that I was trying to do everything for everybody and (coach) Woody (Hayes) called me into his office,” Griffin said. “He told me, ‘You know what? It’s going to make you soft. You can’t do everything for everybody.'”

But unlike Griffin, who admitted it was a goal, Winston said he hasn’t even thought about a second Heisman. Winston said he is more concerned with a second national championship.

“I’m going to be great, even better than I was last year,” Winston said. “I’m going to continue to be myself.”

Coach Jimbo Fisher said he and Winston have talked about the award, but not about winning another.

“I do (talk to him) from the point of the responsibility that goes with it with your character and the things you do,” Fisher said. “Not about winning another one. If he just goes and plays well, that will take care of itself.

“He never thought about winning a Heisman going into last year. You can’t worry about that.”

There will be plenty who will.

The demands and expectations are higher than when Griffin made history. Winston is the leading candidate heading into the season with the defending national champion Seminoles likely beginning the year ranked No. 1.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman winner, said that was the most difficult part for him in 2013.

“There is a lot of pressure,” Manziel said. “You’re the one that’s on TV every week. You’re the one who at the beginning of the year is already at the top of everybody’s Heisman list. … It’s everywhere because it’s the biggest trophy in college football.

“For me, I never really let it get to me too much, but at the same time, it was always around and it was always lingering no matter what went on throughout the season.”

The Seminoles and Winston have tried to manage his off-the-field commitments.

Winston made few public appearances during the offseason. He was the closer on the baseball team, finishing with a team-best 1.08 ERA, and accepted a handful of football awards. Winston was honored in his hometown of Bessemer, Alabama, and his Hueytown High School jersey was retired. There was also a trip to the ESPYs.

The Florida State signal-caller said he has learned to be more guarded, but still loves having “all eyes on me.”

Griffin said that isn’t necessarily a good thing.

“They’re in a fishbowl,” Griffin said of Heisman contenders. “I mean, anything they do, Johnny, every move he made it was talked about. Jameis, same thing. They’ve got to be extremely careful how they handle themselves because whatever they do, people are going to know about it.”

Winston is no stranger to unwanted attention.

He was suspended for three baseball games and completed 20 hours of community service after admitting he stole $32 worth of crab legs from a local grocery store in April. He faced criticism nationwide and was the subject of taunts and jokes in print, online and on social media.

Winston was able to handle what Fisher described as distractions during the national championship run. Winston was investigated for an alleged sexual assault, but wasn’t charged by the attorney general.

The QB will also have a few on-field challenges.

The Seminoles lost two of their top three receivers and their top two running backs to the NFL. Those four accounted for 52.6 percent of the offense and 44 touchdowns.

Nonetheless, because of Winston, the Seminoles will be one of the teams to beat.

Despite his talent, Winston has continued to downplay questions about the NFL. He insists that playing college baseball remains a priority. It would be a challenge to prepare for the 2015 NFL draft while playing for Florida State’s baseball team.

Once Winston does get to the NFL, former Seminoles quarterback and current Buffalo Bills starter EJ Manuel said his anticipation on his throws will be his most valuable trait in the league.

“You can’t take away some of the throws he’s making out there,” Manuel said. “They were tremendous. That’s why he earned the Heisman.

“I think, moving forward, his anticipation skills, obviously, is a sign of intelligence. So that’s going to help him build toward his last couple years at Florida State and then move on to the NFL.”

There was an atmosphere of curiosity around Winston last season after being the No. 1 high school quarterback in the nation. The hype is different now because of his dominance on the field and the criticism away from it.

“I don’t have time to focus on bad things,” Winston said. “I’m always looking forward, keeping a smile on my face and focusing on good things.”

___

AP sports writer Tom Withers in Cleveland contributed to this report.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote