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Meyer says No. 5 Buckeyes are ready without Miller

By WTOP Staff

RUSTY MILLER
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A week after the loss of three-year starting quarterback Braxton Miller, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is going through final preparations for the Buckeyes’ opener on Saturday against Navy.

He says his team is ready.

“Oh, yeah. If you have good players, a good team (then you’re excited),” he said, pausing before joking, “I’ll fake it sometimes, if you don’t have a good team.

“But I can tell you this: I think we got a good team.”

Meyer disclosed that Miller, a two-time Big Ten player of the year and on the short list of Heisman Trophy frontrunners, will have surgery on the torn labrum in his right (throwing) shoulder on Tuesday. Dr. James Andrews, renowned for his work with athletes, will perform the operation.

Normally, this would be a week of celebration for Miller, who was hurt a week ago in practice. He was voted a team captain, along with tight end Jeff Heuerman, defensive lineman Michael Bennett and two unrelated players named Grant — defensive back Doran Grant and linebacker Curtis Grant.

Instead, Miller will miss Saturday’s game while recovering from the surgery taking place in Gulf Breeze, Florida. He is not expected to return to the field until next August.

J.T. Barrett, a redshirt freshman who has never taken a collegiate snap, will start in his place. He will be backed by redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones, who has thrown a total of two passes in his Ohio State career.

Both may see action, although Barrett has a slight edge.

“It was thrust upon us pretty quickly because in my heart I thought Braxton would be ready to go. I didn’t envision this,” Meyer said. “I thought, man, this would be a really close battle for the backup spot. J.T. is the starting quarterback, but there’s not a big separation.”

The Buckeyes still have several other spots up for grabs.

Meyer said Billy Price, Joel Hale and Antonio Underwood were fighting for the starting job at left guard, the one starting cornerback would be either Gareon Conley or Eli Apple and that Jacoby Boren and Alabama transfer Chad Lindsay continue to challenge for the starting center spot. In addition, there are six players in the wide-receiver derby but only three will start the game at M&T Stadium in Baltimore on Saturday afternoon.

A lot of the talk after Monday’s practice dealt with Barrett and picking up the slack for the loss of Miller.

Taylor Decker, the only returning starter on the line at left tackle, likes what he’s seen so far out of Barrett. But also recognizes that the rest of the team must bear a little bit more of the burden with such a new player at the controls.

“He’s been taking the reins of the offense,” Decker said. “He’s stepped up, he’s voiced up and he’s kind of taken control. That’s good to see that he’s not going to back down from it. Him being a young guy and not have a lot of experience, we just have to make him look better. The line has to play that much harder protecting and the receivers have to make plays until he gets comfortable.”

Wide receiver Evan Spencer believes that many won’t be able to notice a substantial difference on Saturday. Barrett’s last complete season was as a junior at Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, three years ago.

“We’re running the same offense (as last year),” he said. “There’s only so many ways to scheme up things. He’s very mobile, and he can make all of throws on the field. It’s going to be different, but at the same time when you see us out there this week a lot of stuff will look pretty similar.”

Meyer — this time he wasn’t kidding — said he was enthused about where the Buckeyes are mentally and physically with the start of the season looming.

“I like where we’re at, especially after today’s practice, and I like how they responded to Braxton’s injury,” he said. “So I think we’re pretty ready.”

___

Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP

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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