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Nebraska’s QB Armstrong says expectations high

By WTOP Staff

ERIC OLSON
AP College Football Writer

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Tommy Armstrong Jr. had never taken a meaningful snap when he was thrust into the Nebraska starting quarterback’s job. Yet he helped the Cornhuskers to a nine-win season that ended with a bowl victory over Georgia.

The sophomore knows expectations are higher this season.

“I feel like a leader,” he said. “I’ve gained the respect of a bunch of guys on the team. Ameer told me I was one of the reasons he came back. That really touched me, that a veteran guy like him would tell me that. That made me strive to be the best leader I can be this year.”

Ameer Abdullah, the nation’s top returning rusher, remains the top offensive threat for seventh-year coach Bo Pelini.

Although Armstrong threw six of his nine interceptions in back-to-back games and was only a 52-percent passer, he showed flashes of playmaking ability while replacing injured Taylor Martinez. His slick forward flip to Abdullah on what was supposed to be a triple-option play produced the go-ahead touchdown at Michigan. His 99-yard touchdown pass in the Gator Bowl was a school record.

Armstrong said he’s faster after losing about 10 pounds to get to 218 and increased his film study this summer.

He said he changed his approach because, unlike last year, he knows he’ll be on the field.

“Anybody can just settle for being good; we have to strive to be great,” he said. “It all starts with us quarterbacks.”

Offensive lineman Jake Cotton said Armstrong’s drive to win showed up during summer conditioning drills, especially during pull-up contests and tugs-of-war.

“Every week other players would compete to get in the ring with him,” Cotton said, “and Tommy didn’t lose once.”

Five things to watch as the Huskers try to win their first conference championship since 1999:

AMAZING AMEER: Ameer Abdullah ran for 1,690 yards, the most by a Nebraska running back in 16 years, and his 17 career 100-yard games are most of any active FBS player. He’s 23 yards shy of becoming the eighth Nebraska player to run for 3,000.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Only two teams averaged less than Nebraska’s 3 yards per punt return, and the Huskers also need to find a kicker to replace the reliable Pat Smith. Mauro Bondi came in as a scholarship kicker in 2011 and hasn’t been able to win the job yet. He’s competing in the preseason against freshman Drew Brown, brother of former Nebraska and NFL kicker Kris Brown.

INJURY ISSUE: The change in NCAA rules that allows coaches to spend up to eight hours a week with players in the summer has helped Nebraska deal with personnel losses that already have cropped up, defensive coordinator John Papuchis said. Byerson Cockrell, a junior-college transfer who enrolled in January, is first in line to take over for nickel back Charles Jackson (season-ending knee surgery). Freshmen Josh Kalu and Trai Mosley also could fill in at nickel, and freshman Kieron Williams will have an opportunity to play right away at safety with the loss to LeRoy Alexander (suspension). “You can tell they were well-coached in high school,” Papuchis said. “The things we’re teaching and installing, it doesn’t seem like they’re hearing it for the first time.”

DOMINANT D-LINE? The front four of ends Randy Gregory and Greg McMullen and tackles Vincent Valentine and Maliek Collins make up what could be Nebraska’s best defensive line since the Ndamukong Suh-led line of 2009. “This group has a lot of talent, but they have a lot of work to do to prove that they’re the group we think they can be,” Papuchis said. Gregory led the Big Ten with 10.5 sacks, the most by a Husker since Suh had 12 in 2009. “Randy is a great kid,” Suh said. “I’ve had a chance to engage with him now and then … He has an opportunity to be successful and be another top (NFL) pick that comes out of the Pelini era.”

YOGA’S A BEAR: The Huskers went through yoga sessions this summer with the goal of increasing flexibility and strength and preventing injuries. The exercises initially drew sideways glances from some of the offensive linemen. Jake Cotton said there were lots of giggles the first session. “We had a little struggle with some of the poses, as you can imagine,” Cotton said. “The guys got behind it. We’re all yogis now.”

___

AP Sports Writer Larry Lage in Allen Park, Michigan, 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
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