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No. 11 Stanford set to open season vs. UC Davis

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — David Shaw was an assistant on the Baltimore Ravens in the fall of 2005 when he heard about the most unlikely upset: UC Davis 20, Stanford 17.

“I just remember I had a pit in my stomach as an alum,” Shaw said.

The Cardinal have come so far since that stunning loss to a lower-tier California school that Shaw sees no reason to talk about it now. Instead, he is focused on taking the two-time defending Pac-12 champions even further, starting Saturday when No. 11 Stanford opens its season against an overmatched Aggies team.

And with a big game against No. 15 Southern California looming next week, Shaw is as eager as anybody to get a glimpse of his retooled team in action.

“When things come up, things flying all over the place, how they handle all the changes, how they handle all those things, how they handle things that come up right before a play that maybe they hadn’t seen and we prepared them for, can they handle those things? And how do they handle those things? That’s what I’m fascinated about it,” Shaw said.

Stanford should have an easier time breaking in a new running back, four new starters on the offensive line and five new starters on defense than it will next week.

UC Davis, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision, finished 5-7 last season. The Aggies also will be starting a new quarterback and their top two running backs are out with injuries.

UC Davis coach Ron Gould said he knows his team faces quite a challenge, but he’s counting on his players to compete hard and do all they can to give Stanford a scare.

“We’re definitely playing one of the pre-eminent football powerhouses in the country,” Gould said. “We have to make sure we don’t get outside ourselves. We have to focus on what our assignments are and we’ve got to play extremely well.”

Here are some things to watch when Stanford hosts UC Davis:

IN THE TRENCHES: Stanford’s reconstructed offensive line will have a major size advantage on UC Davis’ defensive line. The Cardinal’s front line features four new starters and one of the country’s top left tackles in Andrus Peat, but Shaw expects the unit — all part of the acclaimed 2012 recruiting class — to be as good or better than any he has had before.

NEW BACK: Redshirt junior Kelsey Young will be making his first career start for Stanford and will bear the burden — along with Barry Sanders, Ricky Seale and Remound Wright — of replacing 1,700-yard rusher Tyler Gaffney. Young is treating the opener as a continuation of the competition he won in training camp. “There are so many guys that are really good in that running back room,” he said, “I need to be on point every moment.”

DIFFICULT DEBUT: Facing Stanford’s pressure-happy defense is a tough task for any quarterback. Doing it in his debut is an even more daunting challenge. With four-year starting quarterback Randy Wright gone, the battle to replace him at UC Davis is expected to drag on until kickoff — and even then it might not be sealed. Neither senior London Lacy nor sophomore Ben Scott played last season, and both could see time against the Cardinal.

HAMPERED GROUND GAME: The Aggies’ top two running backs, Gabe Manzanares (leg) and Manusamoa Luuga (wrist), are out with injuries. That could make things difficult on a UC Davis team that has relied more on the ground game under Gould, especially considering Stanford’s defense has been among the country’s best run-stoppers.

MONTGOMERY’S MAGIC: Stanford’s Ty Montgomery is somebody to watch every week. This year should be no different. Coaches and teammates have raved about Montgomery all training camp since he came back from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Doctors cleared him to play earlier this week, and the flashy wide receiver and All-American kick returner should get his shot to show fans how healthy he is now. “He has that ability to change the game at any point,” Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan said.

___

Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

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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