Skip to main content

Iowa hosts final public scrimmage

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz wants his players focused on little more than football during fall camp.

That is why there is just one public opportunity to see what the Hawkeyes might look like when they open the season in two weeks.

Iowa’s annual mid-camp open practice was held Saturday at Kinnick Stadium. It’s also typically the only time coach Kirk Ferentz provides updates on the program.

The annual “Kids Day” scrimmage, so named because of a slew of activities designed to entertain younger fans, has turned into a crucial date on Iowa’s schedule.

Here are five takeaways from the final public showing for the Hawkeyes before they host Northern Iowa on Aug. 30.

INJURY UPDATES: Ferentz announced Saturday that junior fullback Adam Cox will be out for the season after tearing a knee ligament. Hawkeyes tight ends Ray Hamilton and Jake Duzey also sat out Saturday’s practice with undisclosed injuries, though it doesn’t sound like either player will miss significant time.

Ferentz said the momentum of fall camp has been somewhat slowed by a host of minor bumps and bruises.

“We’ve had just way too many camp injuries, which is three days, four days (out). All of that kind of stuff,” he said. “It’s really hard for us to establish continuity. It’s really hard to move forward when you have that many guys out.”

KICKSTART: Former Iowa kicker Mike Meyer first opened eyes at Kids Day in 2010, when he shanked a field goal that bounced off the Kinnick Stadium turf and whacked a manager in the face. Saturday’s scrimmage was the first look at Meyer’s potential replacements; Marshall Koehn, Mick Ellis and Miguel Recinos — and none of them looked ready to kick in a game.

But Ferentz said Saturday’s kicking performances weren’t indicative of how those players have looked through two weeks of camp, and he had similar praise for punters Connor Kornbrath and Dillon Kidd.

Saturday “was not a good day, placekicking-wise. Ironically, that’s probably been one of the highlights of camp. I was not really overwhelmed with what we were doing punting or kicking in the spring. Both of those areas have really looked pretty good,” Ferentz said.

The competition for both those spots could stretch into the first week of the season.

GIVING THEM THE WILLIES: Iowa hasn’t had a big-play receiver since Marvin McNutt graduated following the 2011 season. The Hawkeyes think they might have a future star in 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman Derrick Willies, who looked like a potential playmaker in a pair of public scrimmages in April.

But Willies was held out Saturday because of a minor leg injury he suffered on Friday, and emerging sophomore wide receiver Riley McCarron fell awkwardly after making a catch during Saturday’s practice.

BACK IT UP: There are plenty of new faces in Iowa’s secondary. Jordan Lomax has moved over to free safety after an injury-plagued stint at cornerback, and Maurice Fleming, Sean Draper and Greg Mabin are competing to fill an open spot at cornerback.

Though the starting spot opposite Desmond King was expected to go to either Fleming or Draper, Mabin has thrust his name into the conversation with a strong camp.

“They’re all on the same page right now, so it’s kind of hard for the coaches to figure out which one is going to start,” King said.

FULL NELSON: The Hawkeyes have plenty of depth on their defensive line, so it’s unrealistic to expect freshman Matt Nelson play much this fall. But the 6-foot-8, 255-pound Nelson, who grew up in nearby Cedar Rapids and turned down the likes of Notre Dame and Stanford to play for the hometown Hawkeyes, could be ready to play significant snaps in the near future.

“He’s long. I mean, he’s impressive watching him in the pass rush and the natural ability that he has. I’m looking forward to seeing him, especially if he can put on some weight, I think he can be a dangerous guy,” senior tack Carl Davis said.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote