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West Virginia tries to bounce from awful 2013

By WTOP Staff

JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer

Coach Dana Holgorsen needs no reminder about the lack of success he’s seen on the field since ushering in West Virginia’s move to the Big 12.

Hired to make the Mountaineers a national fixture, Holgorsen brought immediate success with a Big East title and resounding Orange Bowl win over Clemson in the 2011 season. But the last two years mostly have been a disappointment and Holgorsen is hoping some changes to his defensive staff can help bring immediate results.

West Virginia is 11-14 since moving to the Big 12 in 2012. The Mountaineers must show significant improvement on both sides of the ball to bounce back from a 4-8 finish — the school’s first losing season since 2001 — that included November losses to lowly Kansas and Iowa State.

“We need to stay the course, continue to develop our talent, continue to recruit better, and then we’ll win those games,” said Holgorsen, who is entering the third year of a six-year contract that pays him at least $2.7 million in salary and bonuses. “Hopefully we can put a season together that everybody will be proud of.”

He’ll have to do that by withstanding a tough early schedule, score points with no consistent returning playmakers on offense and get more out of a defense that’s been simply porous for two straight seasons.

Athletic director Oliver Luck said last December that while he believed in the abilities of the coaching staff, he expects better results. Holgorsen is aiming for that in part by shoring up the number of players who will be ready at each position.

“The chemistry and the continuity right now is better than it’s been since I’ve been here,” Holgorsen said.

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Here are 5 things to watch for from the Mountaineers in 2014:

BANKING ON TRICKETT: Holgorsen anointed Clint Trickett as starting quarterback in June. Holgorsen said Trickett, who had offseason shoulder surgery, “is light years ahead of where he was last year” after transferring from Florida State and becoming eligible to play immediately. Although he was mediocre at times in seven starts and threw just seven touchdown passes with seven interceptions, Trickett led the Mountaineers to a 30-21 win over Oklahoma State. His backups are Paul Millard, who started three games last year, and junior college transfer Skyler Howard.

CROWDED BACKFIELD: Five running backs are looking to replace departed 1,000-yard rusher Charles Sims. Pittsburgh transfer Rushel Shell sat out last season after rushing for 641 yards as a freshman for the Panthers in 2012. Junior Andrew Buie, who left school last fall and re-enrolled in January, led the Mountaineers in rushing in 2012. Junior Dustin Garrison, the top ball carrier in 2011, is back after two injury-plagued seasons. Dreamius Smith was the second-leading rusher behind Sims with 494 yards. Wendell Smallwood, who ran for 221 yards as a freshman, is focused on football again after witness tampering charges against him were dropped last month in a case in Delaware.

CHALLENGING START: West Virginia’s schedule is front-loaded with tough tests against Alabama on Aug. 30 in Atlanta, the Sept. 6 home opener against FCS runner-up Towson, a Sept. 13 road game against a Maryland team that beat West Virginia 37-0 last year, and the Big 12 opener at home Sept. 20 against Oklahoma.

SHORE UP THAT DEFENSE: West Virginia surrendered 33 points per game last season, ranking 99th in the Bowl Subdivision. Tony Gibson was promoted to defensive coordinator after Keith Patterson left for Arizona State and the Mountaineers hired former longtime Penn State assistant Tom Bradley to oversee the defensive line. West Virginia must replace six starters from the unit that allowed 455 yards per game and surrendered four second-half leads in its final six games.

UNHAPPY RETURNS: West Virginia will try to infuse some life in its return game. The Mountaineers averaged a league-low 3 yards on punt returns and 18.6 yards on kickoff returns in 2013. Freshman quarterback William Crest is among those who could get some special teams work, although for now Holgorsen is looking at wide receivers Jordan Thompson and Mario Alford for returning punts, and running back Wendell Smallwood, Alford and Thompson on kickoffs.

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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