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Tar Heels aim to win wide-open ACC division race

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina has optimism from a strong finish and motivation from watching a rival’s surprise trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game.

And that has the Tar Heels talking about making their own run in the wide-open Coastal Division.

“Once you’ve put in so much work, you really can feel what you’re working toward is actually a reality,” linebacker Jeff Schoettmer said. “All the work we’ve put in, we feel like we deserve something out of it.”

The Tar Heels (7-6, 4-4 ACC) say they have the players to keep coach Larry Fedora’s no-huddle offense humming, the experience to make an up-and-down defense show some consistency and a game-changing special teams performer in punt returner Ryan Switzer.

Is it enough to win a division with no clear favorite? The Tar Heels think so, citing Duke’s division title last year with a bit of “Why not us?” mentality.

“It seems more attainable than it ever has since I’ve been here,” offensive guard Landon Turner said. “I think we have the tools. We just have to put it to use.”

The Tar Heels have finished at least .500 in league play each year under Fedora, with his first team finishing tied atop the division but missing a trip to the ACC title game due to NCAA sanctions. Last year’s group clawed back from a 1-5 start and beat Cincinnati in a Belk Bowl rout.

Quarterback Marquise Williams returns as a run-pass threat, though he is fighting to keep the starting job against redshirt freshman Mitch Trubisky. Receiver Quinshad Davis had 10 touchdown catches, while Switzer tied an NCAA single-season record with five punts returns for touchdowns as a freshman.

Freshmen and sophomores scored 46 of UNC’s 55 touchdowns last year, a promising sign for the season that begins Aug. 30 against Liberty.

“Nobody’s going to give us respect until we earn respect,” Williams said. “That’s what we’ve been practicing. I’ve been telling the guys, ‘Don’t think about something little. Think about the big things. Think about the ACC championship. Think about going and playing in the Orange Bowl.'”

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Here are five things to watch for the Tar Heels this season:

QB PLAY: Williams began last season with spot duty, then gradually earned a timeshare with Bryn Renner before taking over when Renner was lost to injury. A two-QB system could take shape again. While Williams’ experience gives him an edge on Trubisky, Fedora has proven willing to use two passers and said Monday the race is still ongoing.

SWITZER’S GROWTH: Can Switzer bring his game-changing plays to the offense? The sophomore had 32 catches for 341 yards and three scores as a receiver last year, but Fedora is expecting a leap forward. “I think people are waiting to see if I can add on to (the punt returns) offensively,” Switzer said. “It hasn’t been a problem with me so far.”

UP FRONT: The offensive line lost tackle James Hurst and center Russell Bodine to the NFL. Now there are seven freshmen or sophomores on the preseason depth chart for a group that must open holes for returning tailback T.J. Logan and touted recruit Elijah Hood. “We’re all committed to working hard and we want to prove people wrong,” sophomore center Lucas Crowley said, “that the O-line is not the weak point.”

DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT: UNC had the league’s worst run defense and generated just 20 takeaways, tied for second lowest in the league. The low point was giving up 55 points and 603 yards in a lopsided loss to East Carolina. Fedora expects improvement in the third year in the 4-2-5 system. “They don’t have to think about it anymore,” he said. “They can react.”

COASTAL FOES: If the Tar Heels want to win the division, they could start by figuring out how to beat Georgia Tech and Duke. Fedora is 0-4 against those division opponents. The Blue Devils have won two close meetings, while the Yellow Jackets have beaten UNC for five straight years. Georgia Tech plays at UNC on Oct. 18 while the Tar Heels travel to Duke on Nov. 20.

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Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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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