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After wild week, Sark eager for USC to host Fresno

By WTOP Staff

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If Steve Sarkisian was a newcomer to Southern California, he might have been astounded this week when his head coaching debut with the Trojans was overshadowed by one player’s bizarre lies about injuries and another player’s accusations of racism.

Instead, this former USC assistant coach knows all about the circus that seems to follow the Trojans everywhere. Sarkisian can’t wait to become the ringmaster on Saturday when Fresno State visits No. 15 USC to open the season.

“I’m more excited than anything else,” Sarkisian said, recalling a lifetime of trips to the venerable Coliseum, from the 1984 Olympics to countless football games featuring the NFL’s Raiders and the Trojans.

“Being a kid from Southern California and being the head coach at SC, and all of the history and tradition and coaches that have come down that tunnel, and the athletes, it’s very humbling.”

Sarkisian gets a stiff test for his debut with the revamped Trojans, who thought they had some stability after a tumultuous 2013 with three coaching changes, innumerable off-the-field distractions and — somehow — 10 victories.

The last of those wins was a 45-20 blowout of Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl, setting up USC’s first back-to-back games against the same opponent in 97 years.

Although 16 Fresno State starters return from last season’s powerful team, the Bulldogs must figure out life after quarterback Derek Carr and his 27 school records.

The Bulldogs know the Trojans’ offensive players well after last December’s meeting, which would be an advantage if Cody Kessler and his teammates weren’t running a new offense. Sarkisian’s up-tempo scheme contrasts with USC’s pro-style sets under Lane Kiffin.

“One of the good things for us is we see that type of offense every day,” Fresno State coach Tim DeRuyter said. “I don’t know if the tempo itself will be something new. The athletes they have doing it will be something different than we’ve seen in the past.”

The Trojans will be without starting cornerback Josh Shaw, who has two high ankle sprains of infamously murky provenance. Sixth-string tailback Anthony Brown also quit the team, but not before posting and deleting accusations of racism against Sarkisian on social media.

Another team might be stymied by this wacky week. The Trojans just keep moving.

“We’ve had to deal with so much adversity in past years already,” USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams said. “We’re used to playing through things like this. We’re not going to let it affect us.”

What to watch in Sarkisian’s debut:

BULLDOG BANS: USC’s distractions and drama could create opportunities for the three-touchdown underdogs on the other sideline, yet Fresno State didn’t exactly have a banner week, either.

Bulldogs linebackers T.J. Thomas and Robert Stanley and receiver Dillon Root are suspended for the opener, and cornerback Corey Ferguson was dismissed from the program Thursday for a violation of team rules.

WHO’S THE QB?: DeRuyter won’t reveal the identity of Carr’s successor until game day. DeRuyter expects both quarterbacks to play in the first half against USC, but the Bulldogs’ apparent indecision isn’t a vote of confidence for Brian Burrell or Duke transfer Brandon Connette.

As Kessler and former Trojans quarterback Max Wittek can attest from their experiences last season, it’s usually not ideal to head into a season sharing a starting job.

“It probably won’t be settled until we get into the league as to who’s going to be our quarterback,” DeRuyter said. “If there is one that definitely separates.”

KESSLER’S ENCORE: After starting all 14 games last year, Kessler is back for his junior season with the Trojans. He has been eager to work with Sarkisian, the former BYU quarterback who tutored Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart as an assistant at USC.

Kessler remembers his nerves before last year’s opener, and he doesn’t think they’ll return. “I’ve got a year under my belt, and I know what to expect,” he said.

ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: These schools have met only three times, but all three games have been landmarks for the winner.

When Fresno State visited the Coliseum in November 2005, Pat Hill’s team nearly pulled off an unthinkable upset before falling 50-42 to the top-ranked Trojans. The schools’ first meeting was Fresno State’s 1992 victory in the Freedom Bowl, still considered the most important win in school history.

FOR STARTERS: Fresno State has won nine of its last 10 openers, but USC’s previous five head coaches have all won their debuts.

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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