Skip to main content

Brissett eager for NC State debut vs Ga Southern

By WTOP Staff

JOEDY McCREARY
AP Sports Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Jacoby Brissett hopes he plays better against Georgia Southern than his former Florida teammates did.

Brissett’s debut at North Carolina State on Saturday comes against the same school that memorably knocked off the Gators late last season.

Brissett says he knows Georgia Southern is “coming in on a high horse and ready to play us a good game.”

“We know going on the road is not going to be something that startles them,” second-year N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said.

“I think you’ll see two teams that both are going to have a chip on their shoulder.”

The Wolfpack hope their new quarterback can lead them to their first victory in nearly 11 long months.

N.C. State stumbled late during Doeren’s first year, losing the final eight games of its 3-9 finish and winding up 0-8 in Atlantic Coast Conference play — the Wolfpack’s first winless league season since 1959.

A lack of leadership, and a lack of healthy playmakers, was largely to blame for those struggles, and Brissett could only watch helplessly as the losses mounted.

Doeren hopes those problems have been taken care of heading into Year 2.

“I’ve seen a lot of these guys on game day and I have a better feel for what they can and can’t do, and what all of our coaches do,” Doeren said. “And it’s just the little things that you do in the offseason to better yourself.”

The good news for N.C. State is, plenty has changed for Georgia Southern since that victory in the Swamp last November.

This game marks the Eagles’ debut as an FBS school and Sun Belt member after winning six national titles at the FCS level.

Jeff Monken, the triple-option-minded coach who engineered the Florida upset, left to take the Army job and Georgia Southern hired Willie Fritz from Sam Houston State to replace him.

“We have gone through a lot of firsts here,” Fritz said.

___

Some things to know about N.C. State’s opener:

— GROUND GAME: Georgia Southern didn’t attempt a pass in beating Florida and though the Eagles have a new coaching staff, it would make sense for them to stick to what works for them. What’s more, N.C. State finished last season next-to-last in the ACC in rushing defense, allowing 180 yards per game, and gave up a league-worst 5 yards per carry while allowing a 100-yard rusher in each of its last three games of 2013.

— WOLFPACK ON THE RUN: Maybe N.C. State can turn the tables on Georgia Southern and rely on its ground game to take some pressure off Brissett in his first start with the Wolfpack. N.C. State averaged 162.7 yards rushing last year — its highest average since 1997 — and will once again rely on graduate senior Tony Creecy, junior Shadrach Thornton and sophomore Matt Dayes to carry the load.

— ART FORM: N.C. State defensive end Art Norman enters his final season with 17 sacks, ranking seventh on the school’s career list. He’s just 8.5 shy of Mario Williams’ record of 25.5.

— EASY PATH: Georgia Southern might be the toughest nonconference test the rebuilding Wolfpack face. After playing the Eagles, N.C. State plays host to another school in its first year in the FBS (Old Dominion), visits rebuilding South Florida and welcomes in Presbyterian of the FCS. Then comes a significant step up in competition: A visit from reigning national champion Florida State.

— SCHOOL TIES: There are a few connections between the coaching staffs. Both Fritz and Doeren grew up in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. And Georgia Southern assistant Matt Barrett graduated from N.C. State in 1999 and joined the Eagles’ staff this year.

___

Follow Joedy McCreary on Twitter at http://twitter.com/joedyap

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