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Syracuse’s Scott Shafer in better place

By WTOP Staff

JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — No scrambling this year for Syracuse coach Scott Shafer.

“I feel more comfortable because I already did it once,” said Shafer, who led Syracuse to a 7-6 record in 2013 and a bowl victory in its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference. “There’s still not a lot of experience, but year two is a little easier than year one.”

A year ago, Shafer had to hit the ground running after Doug Marrone’s abrupt departure to take over the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. The graduation of record-setting quarterback Ryan Nassib only heightened the anxiety for the first-year coach as he searched for a replacement.

In the end, he found one in Terrel Hunt, and he demonstrated a flair for the dramatic as the season wound down.

“I’m real excited to see how Terrel steps into his role of being the returning quarterback,” Shafer said. “He had a great Texas Bowl and all those things, but that’s in the past. He understands that. I just want to see him systematically get better from day to day, and I am excited to see his progress. There is a sense of calm knowing I trust the offense is in Terrel’s hands.”

Hunt did not play as a freshman and got in only one game on special teams in his redshirt year. He took over from Oklahoma transfer Drew Allen in the third game last fall and struggled until the season was on the line. He then led the Orange to a stunning 34-31 win over Boston College, hitting tight end Josh Parris with an 8-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the regular season after throwing a late interception that sent many fans scurrying for the Carrier Dome exits.

The victory gave Syracuse the required sixth victory to play in the postseason, and Hunt followed that by scrambling 12 yards for the decisive touchdown with 74 seconds remaining to lift Syracuse to a 21-17 victory over Minnesota.

The 6-foot-3 Hunt has bulked up to 233 pounds and displayed tremendous zip in his throws during the annual spring scrimmage in April.

“It’s a feeling like no other knowing I’m the starter,” Hunt said. “I went from every day going home wondering if I was going to even play to now where I can just think of running the team and the competition.

“Now that I know what to expect, being more comfortable in the ACC, and coming into the season with your head held high rather than looking around whether you’re going to play, that’s a big difference.”

Added senior offensive tackle Sean Hickey: “I think there’s always a sense of calm when you know that signal-caller and know how he is in the huddle or how he is on the sideline, how he is adjusting to things. I think there’s a lot of comfort with the players who’ve played with him. It’s definitely a positive.”

Five other things to know about Syracuse:

BIG CHANGES: Syracuse lost 19 players from the bowl team, including captains Jay Bromley, Macky MacPherson, Jerome Smith and Marquis Spruill. And Shafer’s staff includes two new faces — offensive line coach Joe Adam, former head coach at Elmhurst College, and tight ends coach Bobby Acosta, former head coach at Widener.

HOW FAST CAN YOU GO?: Syracuse ran an up-tempo offense last year, and offensive coordinator George McDonald wants to speed things up even more. “It’s going to be real exciting,” Hunt said. “If I see something I need to change, it gives me enough time that I can do it.”

EIGHT IS ENOUGH: Shafer is targeting eight victories as a goal, and the players are buying into it despite one of the most difficult schedules in the nation. The Orange face defending national champion Florida State, Maryland, Louisville and Duke at home, Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, and Clemson, Pitt and Boston College on the road. “I say eight is a good level to reach for because you never want to go back,” Hickey said.

RUN AGAIN: Syracuse’s reputation was built on the ground with the likes of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Larry Csonka, and Jim Nance. Last year’s top back Jerome Smith left school a year early, but the returning stable is capable and includes Prince-Tyson Gulley (83 carries for 456 yards and 4 TDs), Adonis Ameen-Moore, George Morris II, and Devante McFarlane. “Everybody knows what they have to do,” Gulley said. “We’re not new to the system anymore. We’re all veterans of the system, so it’s just a case of picking up where we left off.”

WHO’S BUYING?: The Orange open the season against Villanova on the last Friday night in August. In an effort to boost attendance, for every ticket purchased for the game against the Wildcats, Shafer will buy an additional ticket for that fan.

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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