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No turnovers an ongoing problem for Illini defense

By WTOP Staff

DAVID MERCER
Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — For a moment on Saturday, it looked as though Illinois’ turnover drought might end. Youngstown State quarterback Dante Nania delivered a ball right to Illini linebacker Mason Monheim’s hands.

Monheim, one of the team’s best defenders, dropped it.

Illinois didn’t force a turnover in the 28-17 win over Youngstown State, and has gone two-plus games without one, dating to the Purdue game last November. The lack of turnovers isn’t Illinois’ only defensive problem since the start of the 2013 season, but it’s a big one.

“That’s, again, the Achilles heel that we have got to change,” coach Tim Beckman said. “We have got to take the football away.”

The Illini (1-0) forced just 11 turnovers last season (10th in what was then a 12-team conference), and just three interceptions. No Big Ten team picked off fewer passes, and the next-worst, Indiana, had seven, more than twice as many.

A single turnover, of course, can swing a tight game. Monheim’s would-be interception is a clear example of what might have been.

After flirting for three quarters with what would have been a nightmare loss to the Championship Subdivision Penguins, Illinois had just taken the lead 14-9.

Early in the fourth quarter, Youngstown had the ball inside its own 30-yard line. Nania looked to his left and sent the ball right at Monheim, standing near the 30.

If Monheim had held onto the ball, there wasn’t much outside of Nania between him and the goal line. Score, and a 5-point lead becomes at least 11, forcing the run-first Penguins to score twice late.

When the ball tumbled to the turf, Monheim stretched his hands out toward it as if he wanted to will the moment back.

Instead of having the ball and possibly a bigger lead, the Illini were soon trailing again. Youngstown scored seven plays later to go back up, 17-14, before Illinois put together two late touchdown drives for the win.

Monheim’s almost-pick was the most obvious problem, but it wasn’t the only one.

“I thought I saw a couple of times where the ball carrier had the ball out and we could have punched it,” said defensive coordinator Tim Banks, who admitted he has grown tired of answering questions about the lack of turnovers.

A fumble or two would have gotten a tired defense off the field. Youngstown State had the ball for two-thirds of the game, 40:01, using its run game to grind up the time. On a humid, 80-degree afternoon, five drives of three minutes or longer wore on Illinois’ defense, defensive tackle Austin Teitsma said.

“It is hard mentally, especially toward the sixth, seventh play,” he said.

The ability to take the ball away could be even more important Saturday. Western Kentucky (1-0) beat Bowling Green last week 59-31 with an offense that piled up 708 yards. The Hilltoppers ran 96 plays (Illinois had 60 against Youngstown State) and quarterback Brandon Doughty threw for 569 yards and six touchdowns.

Banks and Beckman both say their defense is in for a test. But Banks believes the solution to the turnover problem is fairly simple: Persistence.

“I think if those guys will continue to play hard, it’s going to come,” he said.

___

Follow David Mercer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmercerap

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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