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Miles says No. 13 LSU will play 2 QBs vs Wisconsin

By WTOP Staff

BRETT MARTEL
AP Sports Writer

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Unless LSU coach Les Miles is being coy, he’s having a hard time settling on a No. 1 quarterback.

So with the 13th-ranked Tigers opening the 2014 season this Saturday in Houston against No. 14 Wisconsin, Miles said Monday that he’ll play two quarterbacks: Sophomore Anthony Jennings and freshman Brandon Harris.

“Our team understands that we have talented quarterbacks,” Miles said. “But right now they have not separated themselves, and we are not certain. If we were certain, then I promise you, we would play the one guy that would give us all the advantage.

“But if two guys can give us greater advantage than one guy, then let’s certainly play two,” Miles added.

For the past two seasons, LSU has had certainty under center. Zach Mettenberger, now an NFL rookie with Tennessee, was the unquestioned starter and leader of the offense.

Jennings was the clear No. 2 quarterback last season as a freshman, and took over when Mettenberger was hurt in the second half of the Tigers’ regular season finale against Arkansas. But while Jennings led LSU to a comeback victory over the Razorbacks, he was inconsistent in the Tigers’ Outback Bowl victory over Iowa, completing only 7 of 19 passes with one interception and no touchdowns.

Harris enrolled in January, allowing him to challenge Jennings in both spring practice and fall camp.

For now, LSU’s offensive regulars are downplaying whatever inconsistencies may arise from a two-QB system, and playing up the potential benefits.

“It’s not disconcerting to me at all,” fullback Connor Neighbors said. “They’re having a competition and when you have a competition like that, they’re getting better and they’re pushing themselves.

“It doesn’t matter to me and I’m sure it doesn’t matter to the rest of the team because whichever one is in the game has to lead us and they know that,” Neighbors added. “They’ve been very assertive and very confident when they’re in the huddle.”

In recent weeks, Miles has not allowed Jennings or Harris to meet with media. While it is common for Miles to shield freshmen from media exposure, he has also silenced the sophomore, Jennings, in an effort to prevent one QB from becoming the voice of the offense over another.

Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen — who hasn’t announced a starting QB, either — said the approach of his defense would be similar for either Jennings or Harris, both of whom run well but remain unproven passers.

Andersen said he wants his defense focused primarily on executing its base scheme as well as possible.

“The base defense on paper should be able to react to any scheme and be able to handle any scheme, assuming the players get what they’re supposed to get and can tackle,” Andersen said.

Perhaps Andersen isn’t that concerned with who starts at quarterback for LSU because he expects the Tigers’ running backs to drive the offense. Terrence Magee, who was LSU’s second-leading rusher last season, is back along with fellow senior Kenny Hilliard. Miles said freshman Leonard Fournette, widely regarded as one of the top high school running backs in the nation last year, is expected to make his college debut against the Badgers as well.

“He’s going to want the opportunity to do everything that he can do. And certainly he’ll play a role in this game,” Miles said. “No reason for him to think about winning the Heisman (Trophy) tomorrow, OK. … Just make a contribution. Do the things that you’re slated to do.”

Fournette was a physically overpowering rusher in high school, and it remains to be seen how well he’ll respond against bigger, stronger and faster defenders at the major college level. Yet Miles has been pleased by Fournette’s running against LSU’s highly regarded defense in scrimmages this month.

“There will be better players on the field; certainly, it’s going to not be the same,” Miles said of Fournette’s transition. “But it would be my suggestion that he’s one of those guys that have taken hits against pretty good defense, and he’s ready for that.”

Fellow LSU running backs sound impressed as well.

“Obviously it’s not high school, but I still think he’s going to be able to get out there and do some of the things he’s done in high school,” Magee said. “He’s that talented.”

Notes: Miles said defensive back Jalen Mills, who was arrested this summer and charged with simple battery, is “preparing to play” on Saturday. Miles has declined to specify what Mills’ “in-house” punishment is, and whether that might cost him any playing time against Wisconsin.

___

AP freelance writer Jim Hoehn in Madison, Wisconsin, contributed to this report.

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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