Skip to main content

Beavers look to avoid another opening misstep

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — There’s no way Oregon State is going to overlook season-opening opponent Portland State. The Beavers have been caught in that trap before, with losses to Eastern Washington last season and Sacramento State to kick off 2011.

Senior Obum Gwacham, who is making the switch from wide receiver to defensive end this season, said “not sleeping on any opponent” no matter what their level will be key to Oregon State’s success this season.

“Every team we play this year is a quality team. Portland State — we’ve been talking about them since this summer — that’s a great team,” he said. “If we don’t study them, if we don’t watch them, if we don’t practice hard, we’re not going to be able to beat them.”

Oregon State finished 7-6 last season. Following a stunning 49-46 loss to lower-division Eastern Washington in the opener, the Beavers reeled off six straight wins to become bowl-eligible. But they stumbled down the stretch with a five-game losing streak before a victory over Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl capped the season.

In 2011, the Beavers dropped their opener to the Big Sky’s Hornets 29-28 in overtime and finished the season 3-9.

Portland State, which went 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the Big Sky last season, will play two Pac-12 foes this season: the Vikings visit Washington State in Pullman on Sept. 13.

Portland State coach Nigel Burton sees a challenge in facing Oregon State senior quarterback Sean Mannion, who set school records with 4,662 yards passing and 37 touchdown passes.

“If you’re a competitor you look forward to show how good you are versus the best opponents out there,” Burton said. “If there’s a better quarterback in the country in terms of being an NFL prospect, accuracy, experience level and all the intangibles than Sean Mannion, then I’d like to see him.”

Here are a few more things to look for when Portland State visits Corvallis on Saturday:

DUELING BACKUPS: Alabama transfer Luke Del Rio and sophomore Brent VanderVeen continue to compete for the job as Mannion’s backup, Beavers coach Mike Riley said. “We haven’t designated one as the backup, but we feel really good about the progress they’ve made during camp,” the coach said. “It’s actually a pretty close competition. It goes back and forth each day.”

SEUMALO’S OUT: Center Isaac Seumalo, who could shift positions this season with Josh Mitchell moving to center, is still recovering from a broken foot he sustained during the Hawaii Bowl last season and will sit out the game against Portland State and the next week at Hawaii. The Beavers have a bye after that, so Riley said the earliest Seumalo would play is Sept. 20 against San Diego State.

HISTORY: Portland State is 0-3 in previous meetings with the Beavers. Oregon State is the only FBS-level program to ever play at Portland State, travelling to Civic Stadium (now Providence Park) for a game in 1983 and coming away with a 51-14 win. The crowd of 26,102 on hand that day in September remains the biggest crowd ever at a Vikings home game.

SIBLEY’S LEADERSHIP: In facing the Beavers and a quarterback like Mannion, Portland State will look to its leaders on defense, including junior cornerback Aaron Sibley, who started every game last season after being propelled into the job as a freshman because of injuries. “The beauty, for Aaron, is that he has been through all the trials and tribulation of being a corner at the DI level. It’s hasn’t been smooth sailing and he’s taken his lumps,” Burton said. “So if something goes sideways he knows how to mentally pull himself out of it and help the young guys who haven’t been through the process.”

CONNECTIONS: Burton was an assistant under Riley at Oregon State from 2003-06. Vikings punter Kyle Loomis was a starter for Oregon State in 2006. He left the Beavers to join the Army before coming to Portland State last season, averaging a school-record 46.5 yards a punt. Beavers freshman running back Ryan Nall and Vikings sophomore tight end Jake Nall are brothers.

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