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William & Mary faces stiff test against Hokies

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

William & Mary’s Jimmye Laycock could surely have come up with a better scenario for the start of his 35th season as coach at his alma mater. Since it’s too late for that, he can only laugh, and hope.

Laycock named inexperienced Steve Cluley as his starting quarterback this week, and will rely on the sophomore to weather a defensive storm when the Tribe opens the season at Virginia Tech on Saturday.

He knows the Hokies should have one of the nation’s top defenses again this year.

“They’re very, very good. They’re very good. They’re very fast. They’re very big. They’re very good. They play very hard. Other than that, what do you want me to tell you?” he said this week, laughing.

Laycock wasn’t sure how much of his offense will be available on game day.

“I don’t know if we’ve got a full offensive package or not,” he said, laughing again. “We’re taking it day to day, step by step, so I think the key is to push it as much as we can without overdoing it.”

The Hokies have a new quarterback, too — Michael Brewer, a transfer from Texas Tech.

With some questions still lingering about the Hokies’ offense, coach Frank Beamer enters his 28th season as coach with a healthy respect for the Tribe, which has a history of giving FBS schools fits.

Since 2009, William & Mary has beaten Virginia and held second-half leads against North Carolina, Maryland and West Virginia, and the Hokies claim that record has surely gotten their attention.

“A lot of their guys play like they have a chip on their shoulder,” defensive tackle Luther Maddy said of the Tribe, which, like the Hokies, boasts a stout defense. “They’re definitely not afraid of anybody.”

Besides Brewer, the game also will feature the beginning of Hokies wide receiver Isaiah Ford’s career. The freshman turned heads in preseason camp and was rewarded by being named a starter.

“He’s got very good ball skills,” Brewer said. “When the ball’s in the air, he does a really good job of coming down with it and making plays with the ball in his hands. I’m excited for him.”

Beamer and Laycock are the longest tenured coaches at the FBS and FCS levels, respectively.

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Here are things to watch for when William & Mary plays at Virginia Tech:

CLULEY’S POISE: Bud Foster’s defense has made a habit of rattling inexperienced quarterbacks and will surely look to do IT early against Cluley. Whether it’s the pass rushing of Dadi Nicolas or the ball-hawking secondary that rates near the top in college football, Cluley will have his hands full.

MISTAKES: One of the keys for the Tribe in these payday games has been getting the ball to bounce their way and capitalizing. If the Hokies are sloppy with the ball, they could give the Tribe hope.

RUNNING GAME: William & Mary had one of the nation’s top defenses at the FCS level last season and should be solid again, led by senior defensive end Mike Reilly. The Hokies have struggled running the ball consistently in recent years and would love to get speedy tailback J.C. Coleman loose for long gains.

DEANS OF COACHING: Beamer and Laycock and longtime friends and golfing buddies who usually travel to Georgia every summer to play Augusta National. They didn’t get to do it this summer, but Beamer said that had nothing to do with the idea they were playing each other to start the season. Laycock (35th year) and Beamer (28th) are the longest tenured coaches at the FCS and FBS levels, respectively.

FULL-ON LOEFFLER: Hokies offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler’s love of the tight end in the passing game was taken away last season when starter Ryan Malleck was lost before the season to injury. Malleck is back, and healthy, and Kalvin Cline gained valuable experience last season. Expect both to see plenty of action, and to join with freshman WR Isaiah Ford as some of Brewer’s favorite targets downfield.

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Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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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