Skip to main content

Hokies visit OSU, Pitt-BC renew Big East rivalry

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

A look at things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference during Week 2 of the season:

GAME OF THE WEEK: Virginia Tech at Ohio State. This matchup of marquee programs is the best on a light ACC schedule that includes six games against FCS opponents. A Hokies defense that held William & Mary of the FCS to nine points and 76 yards rushing will look to rattle Ohio State redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, who will make his first home start in place of the injured Braxton Miller. “Any time you are playing one of the best programs in the country and a team that people mention for a national championship and you can go in and get a win, it’s great for the program,” Tech coach Frank Beamer said.

BEST MATCHUP: Pittsburgh at Boston College. The second conference game of the season — and only one of the week — matches two former Big East rivals that routed outmanned competition in their openers. The Panthers are coming off a 62-0 victory over Delaware while BC topped Massachusetts 30-7. Pitt — which is making its first visit to BC since 2003 — allowed 64 total yards to the Blue Hens while the Eagles rolled up 511 total yards against UMass. “You have to watch out for the roller coaster ride a bit,” BC coach Steve Addazio said.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Three transfers started their team’s openers last week, and they all put up big numbers in their debuts with their new schools. North Carolina State’s Jacoby Brissett (319 total yards), Boston College’s Tyler Murphy (291) and Virginia Tech’s Michael Brewer (272) each led their teams to wins and rank 3-4-5 in total offense in the ACC.

LONG SHOT: Maybe Murray State can make things interesting against cross-state rival Louisville. The Cardinals have a short week to prepare for the Racers after routing Miami in an emotional opener that marked Bobby Petrino’s return to the school and their first game as an ACC member. Murray State’s roster is littered with transfers from FBS schools South Carolina, Washington, Kentucky, Marshall and, yes, Louisville. “It’ll challenge our maturity,” Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said.

IMPACT PLAYER: Overlooked in Duke’s season-opening rout of Elon was new short-yardage specialist Thomas Sirk, who rushed for two late touchdowns and looked impressive in the Blue Devils’ fourth-and-short packages. He’s replacing Brandon Connette, who transferred to Fresno State during the offseason. Connette was tough for Troy to handle last year, accounting for 379 total yards and all five touchdowns in last year’s 38-35 win. Now that Sirk is in that role, could he be next to put up big numbers against the Trojans?

___

Compiled by AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Raleigh, North Carolina.

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote