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Utah’s Wilson back after health scare

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

The discouraging news hit Utah quarterback Travis Wilson harder than any defensive lineman.

It was November, and Wilson knew he was likely going to miss at least one game with a concussion. But then the doctors found something more, damage to an artery in his brain.

He was told his career was most likely over.

“There are some parts of me that believed that I wouldn’t play again,” he said. “The first couple of meetings with the doctors, it was mostly bad news and they mostly told me to stop playing.”

Wilson refused to completely let go. Now he’s back with the Utes and hoping to help turn around a team that went 5-7 in each of the past two seasons.

Wilson, an athletic 6-foot-7 junior with a powerful arm, started seven games for Utah as a freshman, passing for 1,311 yards and seven touchdowns with six interceptions.

Last season, he threw two touchdowns in Utah’s 27-21 upset of then-No. 5 Stanford, the Utes’ first victory at home over a top-five team. A gash to his throwing hand against the Cardinal hindered him in the next two games, both losses, before the concussion that led him to sit for the season.

He finished with 1,827 yards passing, 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

In February, Wilson got the report he was hoping for. The artery was stable. Wilson could participate in non-contact drills during spring football. In June, doctors cleared him for the season.

“To me, there was not even a question whether I was going to hang up my cleats or not,” Wilson said. “I always wanted to come back and play again.”

While he’s No. 1 on the depth chart in fall camp, Wilson is seeing competition from Kendal Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma. Utah hasn’t had a quarterback start an entire season since 2008 when Brian Johnson led the undefeated Utes to a Sugar Bowl victory.

Coach Kyle Whittingham said he thinks the competition has been good for Wilson.

“He’s always been a hard worker, but he is really taking it to another level in this offseason. I think part of it is the competition. I had to motivate Travis a little. I’ve always said the competition almost all the time is a good thing and a healthy thing for a team,” the coach said.

Some say the Utes have one of the toughest schedules in the Pac-12 and even the nation this season. They visit Michigan at the Big House, and that’s not to mention their competition in the Pac-12: Oregon, UCLA, USC and Stanford.

Wilson said he believes Utah’s strength this season is that the team is especially close and confident. They’ve learned the lessons of last season: The victory over Stanford, he said, showed the team that it is capable of competing with anyone.

“I’m definitely working on protecting the football, I think that’s the biggest thing,” he said. “I think that was the big letdown about last year — having so many turnovers — so that’s what I’m focusing on.”

For now, there are no worries about Wilson’s health.

“The medical staff has indicated to me and to him that he’s at no greater risk than anybody else with this condition that he has. So we’re just moving forward as though he’s a hundred percent,” Whittingham said.

And certainly, Wilson isn’t letting it impact his outlook. He said he’s excited to get the season underway.

“I feel like it’s not a risk that’s going to put me in any danger. The doctors have my back on that as well,” he said. “It’s something I’ll have to keep checking, but it’s not something I’m going to worry about.”

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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