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Petersen era to begin with Huskies at Hawaii

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

Spending time on the islands during football season is not Washington coach Chris Petersen’s idea of a vacation.

He learned the difficulty of taking a team to Hawaii when he was the head man at Boise State and a trip to Oahu to face the Rainbow Warriors was a part of conference play.

He’s a fan of Hawaii, but not necessarily playing there.

“Get off that plane and get that nice ocean air and it feels like vacation. So it’s very easy to lose that mental edge and not be in tune to how it’s going to be and how it’s going to feel,” Petersen said.

“Then to play the game, little bit of time change, certainly the weather is different. Usually a little more humidity, sometimes some rain, always some sort of wind. After the game you have to get on that plane and get back here about eight in the morning, get ready for the next week, so there’s nothing easy about this trip at all.”

Petersen made the trip with Boise State three times and went 2-1. So his debut at Washington will come in familiar territory when the No. 25 Huskies face Hawaii on Saturday night.

This trip comes with the added intrigue of Petersen finally taking the jump and leaving the comfort he had with the Broncos to take on the challenge of coaching in the Pac-12. And while his first conference game is still a month away, the tenor for what’s to come can be set by how the Huskies play.

Hawaii is looking for any kind of positive buzz after last season’s 1-11 stumble, a lack of interest around the program and concerns that budget shortfalls could eventually spell an end to the Warriors program. Hawaii is expecting a crowd of less than 30,000 for the opener.

“It’s a fun opportunity for us,” Hawaii coach Norm Chow said. “It’s a challenge for us and we would hope the fans would enjoy that.”

Here are things to watch as Washington starts the Petersen era:

QB QUESTION: Quarterback is the most uncertain position as Petersen beings his Washington tenure.

Sophomore Jeff Lindquist will get the nod as the starter against the Warriors, beating out redshirt freshman Troy Williams. But neither could be under center a week from now as presumptive starter Cyler Miles returns from a one-game suspension. Miles has the most experience of the three, having started one game last season, but missing all of spring practice due to suspension while a new system was being implemented still has him behind.

Lindquist could make the decision on who takes over tougher depending on how he plays Saturday.

“Looking at it as a job to lose I think is a little bit negative,” Lindquist said. “I’m just going to try to basically do the best I can and we’ll see where the cards fall.”

NEW BISHOP: Bishop Sankey left a major void in Washington’s backfield after the best season running the ball in school history. Sankey ran for 1,870 yards and 20 touchdowns last season and it won’t be just one player asked to replace that productivity. Dwayne Washington will get the first chance, but Lavon Coleman, Jesse Callier and Deontae Cooper will all get carries.

PASS HAPPY: Chow’s teams are known for their passing proficiency and the Warriors will be facing a young Washington secondary. Cornerback Marcus Peters has the look of a future NFL star, but he’ll be joined in the secondary by two freshmen and a sophomore. The most anticipated debut will be that of safety Budda Baker, the gem of Petersen’s first recruiting class with the Huskies.

CARRY THE LOAD: Hawaii may have a running back in junior Joey Iosefa who can handle the pounding of trying to control the game on the ground. Iosefa showed that last year when he carried a school-record 37 times against San Diego State. At 6-foot, 245 pounds, Iosefa won’t run away from defenders, but might be the counter needed against Washington’s big, aggressive front seven.

ISLAND TIME: Washington has four players on its roster who went to high school in Hawaii, but it’s a chance for Hau’oli Kikaha to star in a new position. Kikaha’s position is called the “Buck” in Washington’s new defense, a hybrid between outside linebacker and rush defensive end and many around the program think Kikaha will thrive there.

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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