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Maryland can’t afford to look past James Madison

By WTOP Staff

DAVID GINSBURG
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Before Maryland can start thinking about facing Big Ten competition, the Terrapins first must get through their non-conference schedule — beginning with Saturday’s home game against James Madison.

After playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference since 1953, Maryland is about to embark on its first season in the Big Ten. But league play doesn’t begin until late September, so it’s up to coach Randy Edsall to keep his players from looking ahead.

“Everybody wants to talk about the fifth game or the sixth game, but we’ve got to play Game One,” Edsall said. “That’s the challenge you have as a coach when you’re dealing with 17- to 22-year-olds. This game on Saturday against JMU counts as much as the sixth, seventh, eighth game. You only get 12 of them, with the opportunity to play 13 or more.”

After James Madison, the Terrapins face South Florida, West Virginia and Syracuse.

But that’s getting ahead of the game. Right now, the only team Maryland need be concerned with is James Madison, a Football Championship Subdivision team with high aspirations.

The Dukes have a new coach, Everett Withers, who was head coach at North Carolina in 2011 and defensive coordinator at Ohio State in 2012-13.

“It’s always difficult when you play a first-year head coach,” Maryland offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said. “For me, it’s just about looking at their tape and seeing where their coaches come from. Our biggest opponent going into game one is ourselves.”

___

Here are some things to look for when James Madison faces Maryland:

BROTHERLY LOVE: Maryland quarterback C.J. Brown’s little brother is defensive back Jordan Brown. “I just hope C.J. has been careful with what he’s been texting his brother, and I hope his brother kind of slipped up a little bit and gave the older brother some information that might be able to help us,” Edsall said with a grin. C.J. said: “There aren’t many times you get to go against your brother, especially at this level, so I’m looking forward to it. We’ll wish each other good luck before the game and see each other afterward.” In addition, Terps defensive back Daniel Ezeagwu’s twin brother David plays linebacker for the Dukes.

PAST PERFORMANCES: If the past means anything, this could be a close game. In 1998, James Madison lost 23-15 at Maryland. In 2009, one year before Edsall’s arrival, the Dukes took the Terrapins to overtime before falling 38-35. “I spoke to our team about that and let them know they are a very good football team,” Edsall said. “They’re a talented team. I believe they have 10 transfers from FBS schools, seven on offense and three on defense. They have a quarterback (Vad Lee) who was a starter in the ACC.” C.J. Brown said, “They’re going to come in here with a chip on their shoulder, wanting to prove the world wrong, just like they did a few years ago against Virginia Tech” in a 21-16 upset in 2010.

FAMILIAR FOE: Two of JMU’s transfers came from Maryland, and both seniors hope to play a key role on Saturday. Jeremiah Wilson starts at right cornerback for the Dukes and Titus Hill will serve as a backup linebacker. C.J. Brown, who used to compete against the duo in practice, said, “Going up against those familiar faces will be different — and the same.”

RESPECT: Edsall is 13-24 at Maryland in three seasons, but the Terps reached the Military Bowl last season and appear to be on the rise. “I have a whole lot of respect for Randy Edsall and what he’s done for the program,” Withers said. “You look at where they are now, they’ve got a ton of talent. People talk about Maryland going into the Big Ten and struggling. I don’t see that. I see Maryland having a chance, if healthy, of having success in the Big Ten.”

FOR OPENERS: Maryland has won four straight openers and nine of 10. Edsall is 10-5 in his career and has won 10 of the last 11. The Dukes are 22-18-1 in season openers, 17-17 since moving to FCS. JMU is 0-10 against FBS foes in openers.

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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