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No. 20 K-State wary of opening against FCS foes

By WTOP Staff

DAVE SKRETTA
AP Sports Writer

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ryan Mueller still finds it hard to talk about one year later.

Kansas State was opening a new season amid high expectations. The school was dedicating a $90 million renovation to its football stadium. A bronze statue of coach Bill Snyder that stood to the west of the press box was unveiled amid much pomp and circumstance.

Then the Wildcats were humbled by a team from the Football Championship Subdivision.

“I want to forget that loss and not bring it back up, but it’s hard because it was about this time last year that North Dakota State came into the house and beat us,” Mueller said. “I think it kind of showed our lack of maturity, and maybe we were a little overconfident.”

There’s a good chance the Wildcats won’t make a similar mistake Saturday night.

No. 20 Kansas State returns several key players from that team, which rallied to win eight times and beat Michigan in its bowl game, as it opens the season against Stephen F. Austin.

The Lumberjacks, a longtime FCS powerhouse, won just three games last season.

“We’ve learned a lot. Regardless of what division you are, teams are going to come to play,” said the Wildcats’ Tyler Lockett, one of the top wide receivers in the Big 12. “You can’t take anything for granted. They’re not just going to let you win. You have to be able to go out there and compete. They’re not going to lay down. If you want it, you have to come and get it.”

Last year was hardly the first time the Wildcats had struggled against a lower-profile team.

They were ranked sixth in 2003 when they lost to Marshall at home, and were No. 13 the next year, when they lost to Fresno State in their second game. They lost to Louisiana early in the 2009 season, Snyder’s first after coming back from a brief retirement.

“We may have not overlooked North Dakota State, but just didn’t have them highlighted like we need to highlight every single game,” Wildcats linebacker Jonathan Truman said. “This year we’ve been thinking about Stephen F. Austin. That’s the one game we’ve been thinking about.”

Besides, a win over a Big 12 foe would trump just about everything for the Lumberjacks.

“With every great challenge comes an awesome opportunity,” said coach Clint Conque, who was hired away from Southland Conference rival Central Arkansas in December. “It’s an opportunity for us to compete and see where we are as a program.”

What to watch when Kansas State and Stephen F. Austin open their seasons:

EASY LOOKAHEAD: Sure, the Wildcats are saying all the right things when it comes to focusing on the Lumberjacks. But with their Big 12 opener at Iowa State looming next week, and a showdown against No. 6 Auburn after that, nobody would blame them for looking ahead.

BIG 12 BULLIES: The Lumberjacks have never beaten a Big 12 foe in seven tries, including four games against Baylor. Stephen F. Austin was routed 61-13 by Texas Tech a year ago, a team Kansas State beat handily in November.

HUBERT’S HEIR: John Hubert was a stalwart at running back for Kansas State, starting each of the past three seasons. Now, the Wildcats are trying to find somebody to fill his shoes. Charles Jones will get the first shot with DeMarcus Robinson and Jarvis Leverett Jr. also in the mix.

WALKING ON WATERS: Jake Waters finally became comfortable midway through last season, and it showed in the quarterback’s play down the stretch. Now a senior, he enters the season with lofty expectations. “The game started to slow down for me,” Waters said. “I learned how to read defenses better, how to study film of our opponents. And I just kind of kept growing.”

CONQUE’S CHORE: A few eyebrows were raised when Conque left Central Arkansas for a conference rival in the offseason, especially one that his team beat by five touchdowns. But there is plenty of talent in Texas, and Stephen F. Austin has a solid tradition. Conque is banking on those factors to aid in a quick turnaround. “The players have bought into a new way, a new attitude of doing things,” Conque said, “but we have a lot of work to do.”

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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