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Progress made, but can Minnesota take next step?

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Sports Writer

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For the first time since coach Jerry Kill took over, Minnesota has made significant progress.

In 2013, the Gophers doubled their Big Ten victory total of the previous two seasons. The eight wins were the most the program has had in a decade.

Oh, but taking that next step can be tough. Minnesota must find a way to improve an offense that went 13 straight quarters last year without a touchdown until a couple of late scores in a bowl loss to Syracuse. Three starters from the defense are currently in NFL training camps.

Then there are those trips to TCU, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin plus back-to-back November home games against Iowa and Ohio State. But the Gophers believe the confidence gained last season set the foundation for greater success, which Kill told the players after the Texas Bowl they should be “starving” for.

“Our team last year set the tone of where we need to go and where we need to be. However, that’s in the past. Now we’re in the future. New team. New situation,” Kill said.

Here are five things to know about the upcoming season for the Gophers:

QUARTERBACK QUANDARY, NO MORE

Philip Nelson left the program, so sophomore Mitch Leidner was given the reins. While Nelson and Leidner were switched often last year, even in games when both of them were healthy, Kill said the coaching staff made a mistake by rotating them too much and creating instability.

With clarity established at quarterback, at least four games of starting experience for the five projected offensive linemen (Ben Lauer, Zac Epping, Tommy Olson, Foster Bush and Josh Campion) and assumed improvement by a raw group of wide receivers, the Gophers have the building blocks of a more-productive offense after ranking next-to-last in the conference last season with an average of 343 yards per game.

“This year it’s just a different foundation. We know Mitch is our guy,” running back David Cobb said.

RUNNING MEN

Cobb rushed for 1,202 yards last season, ending a streak of six straight years for the Gophers without a 1,000-yard guy.

With fellow senior Donnell Kirkwood and bruising junior Rodrick Williams toting combined career totals of 1,975 yards and 14 touchdowns behind him, there’s as much depth in this backfield since NFL players Marion Barber and Laurence Maroney shared carries 10 years ago. Berkley Edwards, a prize of the 2013 incoming class who severely sprained his ankle in practice and took a redshirt season, is also in the mix.

Minneapolis native and touted recruit Jeff Jones has been accepted to the university but not cleared academically by the NCAA due to low ACT scores. The Gophers are hoping he can practice this fall and be ready to contribute in 2015.

“He understands where he’s at,” Kill said. “We need him next year more than anything.”

STILL STOUT

Defensive tackle Ra’Shede Hageman (Atlanta) and defensive back Brock Vereen (Chicago) were drafted by NFL teams, and linebacker Aaron Hill signed with St. Louis. That’s a lot of talent to lose, but there are plenty of productive, experienced players returning with safety Cedric Thompson, linebacker Damien Wilson and defensive end Thieren Cockran leading the list.

Defensive coordinator Tracy Claeys, who led the team when Kill was ill and unable following epileptic seizures, engineered the group that finished fourth in the Big Ten with 22.2 points allowed per game.

“I can’t really put my finger on what it is about him, but you know that he’s giving everything he has,” said defensive tackle Cameron Botticelli.

STIFF SCHEDULE

Beating Nebraska was this team’s biggest accomplishment of 2013. Wisconsin, which owns a 10-game winning streak in the series, is the next giant to slay. The Gophers finish the season with consecutive road games against the Huskers and Badgers.

Gulp.

“We expect those other opponents to look at us and know this is not the same Minnesota of the past,” Cobb said. “They’re going to have to come ready to play. … We feel like everybody on the schedule, we can beat. Home or away, we expect to win.”

NEW TENANTS

The Gophers are sharing their stadium the next two years with the Vikings while the NFL team’s new facility is built. The chance to see pros like Adrian Peterson up close can’t hurt, right?

“If I get a chance, I’m going to have to slip AP a letter,” Cobb said, smiling.

___

Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP

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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