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Winston, FSU moving on from Oklahoma State test

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jameis Winston said No. 1 Florida State did a little celebrating in the locker room after leaving the field seemingly less than thrilled with a closer-than-expected win over Oklahoma State.

Sure, the defending national champions didn’t look much like repeat material in the same stadium where the next title will be decided under the new playoff format. It was still a 37-31 win over a team that might be rebuilding but isn’t exactly a slouch.

“There is no reason to get upset because I feel like we needed a great game,” Winston, the Heisman Trophy winner, said after throwing for 370 yards and running 28 yards for a score Saturday night. “And Oklahoma State was outstanding out there. They never gave up.”

The Seminoles (1-0), who tied a school record with their 17th consecutive victory, had the nation’s top passing defense last year and looked the part early in building a 17-0 lead in the $1.2 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys.

Oklahoma State’s J.W. Walsh outplayed Winston in the second half, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another to keep the Cowboys close. But Florida State twice came up with fourth-quarter stops when the Cowboys could have taken the lead with a touchdown.

The first was a 14-yard sack of Walsh on an intentional grounding call that led to a punt and a short field that helped Florida State get a field goal for a 30-24 lead. The second was cornerback P.J. Williams forcing and recovering a fumble on a hit that sent Walsh cart-wheeling to the turf.

Moments later, Winston threw his only touchdown pass, a 50-yarder to Rashad Greene. He had two interceptions.

“I don’t think we let down,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I think we were just worrying. I keep telling them, you don’t worry about results. You worry about the process of playing well, executing well, doing the little things.”

The Seminoles are all but certain to set a school with their 18th straight win Saturday against The Citadel. After a week off, their Atlantic Coast Conference opener is against No. 16 Clemson, which will drop in the poll after a 45-21 loss to 12th-ranked Georgia. No. 17 Notre Dame looms in October.

To get back to North Texas, Florida State will have to qualify for the new four-team College Football Playoff, and win a national semifinal on New Year’s Day. The title game is Jan. 12 in Dallas owner Jerry Jones’ massive showplace.

“We don’t feel like it’s a burden at all,” Williams said. “We’re not defending last year’s title because we can’t lose it, so we’re chasing the next one and trying to get that.”

Greene had 11 catches for a career-high 203 yards, moving into fourth on the school’s career list with 2,668 yards receiving. But Karlos Williams averaged just 2.9 yards on 23 carries in his first game as the featured running back.

Winston had 15 incompletions a year after throwing just two in a spectacular debut that jump-started his Heisman season.

One of his deep balls was so badly underthrown, the Seminoles got a pass interference penalty when Greene had to stop to try to catch it and Ashton Lampkin ran into him. But the next play, Winston led Greene perfectly on a 37-yard completion to set up one of Roberto Aguayo’s three field goals.

Winston also had the signature play of the game when he scored, hurdling guard Josue Matias and sidestepping a defender on the longest run of his career.

“We didn’t play well, like we wanted to play,” Fisher said. “But we still made critical plays when we had to make critical plays. And there is something to that.”

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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