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Mizzou QB Mauk set to become full-time starter

By WTOP Staff

JAKE KREINBERG
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Growing up in Kenton, Ohio, Maty Mauk didn’t know much about Missouri. But he got an offer to play quarterback for the Tigers, and decided to visit them during the Fourth of July weekend in 2011.

Five hundred miles later, he knew where he wanted to attend college.

“When I came on that first visit, it was a lot different than the other ones,” Mauk said Monday. “Here I knew it was about my best chance to grow as a man, a football player and to get me ready to play at this level, the next level, whatever it may be.”

Three years later, the 6-feet, 195-pound sophomore is set to become No. 24 Missouri’s full-time starter against South Dakota State on Saturday. He won’t be taking snaps without experience, though. Mauk finished 3-1 as a starter in place of an injured James Franklin a year ago, a key development in the team’s SEC East-winning season.

Mauk actually played in 13 of 14 games, completing 51 percent of his passes for 1,071 yards and 11 touchdowns. Two inches shorter and 35 pounds lighter than Franklin, who was released Monday by the Detroit Lions, Mauk used his speed to elude defenders in the backfield and then find open receivers.

In addition to sporting a full reddish-brown beard and wavy locks of the same color, Mauk has matured off the field and improved his decision-making on it, teammates say, validating the quarterback’s reasoning for coming to Missouri.

“He’s still a goofball off the field, don’t get me wrong,” receiver Bud Sasser said. “But when we go out to the practice field, he’s all ears and he’s all ready to go.”

Coach Gary Pinkel agreed, calling Mauk an “unthreatening leader.”

“There’s no question our players believe in him,” Pinkel said. “I believe in him. He’s just got to understand that he’s got a lot of people around him who can help him do well. He doesn’t have to do everything.”

Mauk will need help from relatively inexperienced receivers compared to Franklin’s arsenal of L’Damian Washington, Dorial Green-Beckham and Marcus Lucas. The three combined for 167 catches, 2,468 yards and 25 touchdowns last year, and all have departed.

Sasser, Jimmie Hunt and Darius White are expected to start in their place after tallying 55 receptions, 690 yards and three touchdowns last season. Despite all three players being seniors, the trio only has 16 combined starts, all of which belong to Sasser.

“I love them,” Mauk said. “There’s nobody I’d rather trade them for. It’s not, ‘We don’t have guys.’ We have guys who can play football and that’s what you’ve got to do.”

Mauk’s first opponent will be South Dakota State from the FCS-level Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Jackrabbits finished 9-5 overall and 5-3 in conference last season, yielding 382 yards per game, including 219.5 through the air.

The team is facing an FBS opponent for the seventh consecutive year, but is still searching for its first win against one since moving to Division I in 2004.

Missouri created a lot of “self-inflicted wounds” in its three scrimmages during fall camp, offensive coordinator Josh Henson said. Fixing those mistakes will be the point of emphasis this week.

For his part, Mauk says the Tigers can’t afford to overlook anyone. The quarterback has become more demanding of his teammates to consistently improve while also becoming more accountable for himself, running back Marcus Murphy said.

“He expects to be a winner,” quarterbacks coach Andy Hill said. “Having that mindset combined with the threat of being able to take off and run with the ball in his hands — that makes for a good combination. Hopefully he can complete more than 50 percent of his passes like he did last year.”

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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