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No. 1 Florida State, Winston look to improve

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Jameis Winston and the Florida State Seminoles needed just 60 minutes to learn the 2014 season will be much different from their championship run a year ago.

Winston bullied his way to a Heisman trophy by putting up numbers never seen from a freshman at the FBS level. Things seemed to come easy as Florida State set records for points, yards and the quarterback became the youngest player ever awarded the Heisman statue.

Things weren’t so simple in the 37-31 win over Oklahoma State in the season opener. They Seminoles get a chance at a better showing on Saturday when they host The Citadel.

Winston will have to play better for the Seminoles to win another title, but the quarterback will need more help from the skill positions than he got against the Cowboys. .

The Seminoles led the nation in third down conversions in 2013, but were just 4-for-14 against Oklahoma State. Winston led the nation in quarterback efficiency (184.8) in 2013, but threw more interceptions (two) than touchdowns (one) for just the second time during his career. The FSU offense had three receivers with nearly 1,000 yards in 2013, but Rashad Greene was the primary target with 203 of Winston’s 370 passing yards.

The 20-year-old quarterback said he knows where what went wrong.

“Just me trying to do too much,” Winston said. “Trying to redeem myself or have a game like I had last year instead of just going out there and playing.”

That was easier to do last year with the all the talent Winston had around him.

But Carolina Panthers first-round draft pick Kelvin Benjamin and Kenny Shaw are both gone. Benjamin provided a unique 6-foot-5, 240-pound target and Shaw was adept at converting third downs.

Against Oklahoma State, Winston turned to Greene. He caught 11 balls, but Winston completed just 25 of 40 attempts.

While Greene may end his senior year as the most prolific receiver in FSU history, but there’s little experience otherwise.

Senior Christian Green, who had 62 of his 73 yards on a single reception, is starting opposite Greene and knows the other receivers have to chip in more.

“We know we have to help out,” Green said. “Teams are going to start going … toward (Greene), so we’re going to have to do our thing. The other receivers (need) to come in and get open and make plays as well. So Jameis can feel comfortable with us and stuff like that.”

The Seminoles will return Jesus “Bobo” Wilson this week after a one-game suspension stemming from the theft of a motor scooter. Coach Jimbo Fisher, Winston and several players have raved about how much the 5-9, 177-pound speedster will add to the offense.

All-ACC tight end Nick O’Leary was expected to pick up some of the slack, but he had just three catches for 28 yards. Fisher said he was the No. 1 option on six plays.

Sophomore Kermit Whitfield, who may be the fastest player in the country, had three catches and is a threat in the slot, but Winston seemed to lock in on Greene in several instances against Oklahoma State.

That’s something Bucky Brooks, NFL Media analyst and former scout for the Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers, noticed last year.

“I’d like to see him learn how to work quickly through his progressions to get to his second and third read in the route,” Brooks said. “He struggled a bit last year in terms of people coming after him and really bringing pressure and he didn’t necessarily react well to it. I’d like to see him play with more poise under those pressure situations and find a way to get to his hot secondary or third read.”

Winston knows it wasn’t his best game and said he has to erase the turnovers, especially in the red zone. The encouraging part is the issues surfaced in the first game against a quality opponent and can be fixed.

Fisher expects Winston to settle down.

Winston “made good reads for the most part … didn’t throw in the coverage,” Fisher said. “But at the same time, he can play better and I think … he got just a little antsy in the pocket. But that’s something as the year goes on and the seasons go, you get better and get a feel for things inside.

“I thought he had a solid performance but he knows he can still play better as far as not wanting big plays but just continuing to make smart plays. But I was still pleased with his progress.”

Winston said there’s no reason for concern, Florida State doesn’t have to win each game by 40 points to win another title.

“We’re going to be playing some real football,” Winston said. “We’re glad that we got tested early. We needed to see what we would do in that pressure situation.”

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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