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No. 16 Clemson, QB seek to keep offense humming

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney and offensive coordinator Chad Morris have repeatedly said that the 16th-ranked Tigers’ attack would not slow down even with new faces in control.

The first chance to prove that comes Saturday at No. 12 Georgia.

Morris has spent a lot time since finishing a second straight 11-2 season pounding his new guys about how few believe they can achieve without record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd and receiver Sammy Watkins. Cole Stoudt, Boyd’s backup the past three years, has taken it all in and taken it to heart.

Stoudt and his offensive teammates are ready to show they can play a little football, too.

“They came into fall camp with different edge because nobody was talking about the guys that are here,” he said.

Stoudt said he’s not cocky, just calm and confident for his first-ever start. The son of former NFL passer Cliff Stoudt, the senior has prepared for this moment since he first came to campus and began his three seasons on the bench behind Boyd.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney wouldn’t mind some evidence of nerves in his new quarterback instead of the steady demeanor he’s carried in all situations. Stoudt showed that with the Tigers his freshman season in 2011 after Boyd got hit hard against Boston College and had to come out in the third quarter with the game still in doubt.

“We’re in a tough ballgame here. We’ve got a ways to go,” Swinney recalled this week. “He just said all right, let’s go. But that’s Cole. That’s just his demeanor.”

Stoudt didn’t have much more significant playing time after that because of the durable Boyd. And when Boyd chose to return for his senior season last fall instead of leaving early for the NFL, Stoudt just buckled up his chin strap and worked hard on perfecting the offense.

In fact, Swinney said the Tigers are in better shape with this transition than before 2011 when an untested Boyd took over under center for Colorado Rockies prospect Kyle Parker.

“It’s different in that Cole is very talented but he’s got more experience to draw upon than what people give him credit for,” the coach said.

That’s not necessarily the case with everyone on offense, where the Tigers will start just three players who saw action in their last game. Included in that list with Stoudt are tailback D.J. Howard, tight end Jordan Leggett and receivers Charone Peake, Adam Humphries and Mike Williams.

While Morris has confidence in all of them, he acknowledges the questions that come along with change.

“The hardest part of a first game is there (are) so many unknowns,” Morris said this week. “So many unknowns on their part, so many unknowns on our part,”

More certain for Clemson is its defense, which returns six players from a year ago including All-American defensive end Vic Beasley who led the team with 13 sacks. That number would’ve been higher if not for the one-game suspension of senior defensive end Corey Crawford, disciplined in March by Swinney for violating rules.

“Going in, we’re the more experience part of the team,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said, “and we’re going to have to act like it. We’ll be ready.”

Clemson is opening the season with Georgia in a big early test for the second consecutive year. Led by Boyd’s five TDs (three passing, two rushing), the Tigers earned a 38-35 victory that kept a focus of college football until a mid-season beat down at home by defending national champion Florida State.

The Bulldogs don’t want to start in a hole once again. “After losing last year’s game, this is huge for us,” Georgia defensive end Sterling Bailey said. “But we’re not going to let all of that hype get to us. We still have to go into the game focused on getting the job done.”

Stoudt is calling on that approach, too, as he hopes to make a big impact in his final season at Clemson.

“There’s not really much stress,” he said. “It’s just going out there and having some fun.”

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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