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Iowa St still searching for No. 1 QB

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

AMES, Iowa (AP) — It’s become a late summer tradition that Iowa State would like to break.

If it’s the middle of August, the Cyclones are in the middle of yet another quarterback controversy.

Iowa State is again unsettled at the game’s most important position. The Cyclones have narrowed their choices down to junior Sam Richardson and sophomore Grant Rohach, and coach Paul Rhoads said Thursday that he’ll name a starter by Monday.

Iowa State opens the season at home on Aug. 30 against FCS power North Dakota State.

“I’ve seen great improvement from them, and that’s the fun thing,” Rhoads said. “Not only is it a true competition, we’ve seen an elevated level of play

When the Cyclones left a chilly Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia at the end of November, there didn’t seem to be a controversy at all.

Rohach had just led the biggest comeback in school history, throwing for 331 yards and four TDs to help the Cyclones overcome a 24-point deficit and beat West Virginia 52-44.

Then Mark Mangino showed up.

The former Kansas State and Oklahoma coordinator and Kansas head coach was put in charge of yet another Big 12 offense in the offseason, and one of his first priorities was to open the quarterback job to all comers.

Though Rohach ended last season as the starter, he believes that an intrasquad scrimmage set for Saturday could go a long way in determining who wins the job for 2014.

Rohach threw for eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2013, with a completion rate of 57.6 percent.

“It’s not like a day-by-day update of who’s in the lead or anything like that. I think they just want us going out there and playing hard,” Rohach said.

The events of last season — when Iowa State lost seven straight and finished 3-9 — made it easy to forget just how highly the coaching staff thought of Richardson last August.

The Cyclones thought he had all the makings of a three-year starter.

But Richardson injured his ankle in an opening-day loss to FCS rival Northern Iowa and was never quite the same quarterback who completed 23 of 27 passes with four TDs in his 2012 debut.

Richardson then hurt this thumb, and an offensive line decimated by injuries didn’t help matters.

Still, the coaching staff has seen Richardson improve his strength, accuracy and grasp of the offense in past nine months — perhaps even enough to leap past Rohach on the depth chart.

Despite his struggles in 2013, Richardson has 19 career TD passes against just seven picks.

“He’s got a firm grasp on (the offense)…he’s growing with it every day,” Iowa State quarterbacks coach Todd Sturdy said of Richardson. “He’s played in games. He has won games. That’s a lot of experience for him going into a new system and competing for a job this fall. He’s sitting right where he wants to be. I’m real pleased with his growth.”

The instability Iowa State has suffered through at quarterback in recent years has kept the program from making a serious push up the Big 12 standings. But the Cyclones appear to have plenty of talent at both running back and wide receiver, so whoever is named the starter should have a chance to succeed.

The winner of this summer’s annual quarterback competition shouldn’t get too comfortable though.

Redshirt freshman Joel Lanning might be third-string for now. But anyone who has watched Iowa State knows that, a year from now, Lanning could be in the mix as well.

“Joel’s a strong kid,” Sturdy said. “He’s got a lively arm. I think he’s very, very talented. His skill set as a quarterback is really good. I’ve been really impressed so far.”

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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