Skip to main content

Notre Dame’s Cole Luke makes most of opportunity

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — The loss of cornerback KeiVarae Russell while Notre Dame determines whether five football players were involved in academic fraud has given Cole Luke a chance to show what he can do.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound sophomore played solidly in the opener, with Rice completing only two passes against him, one for a 2-yard gain. Irish coach Brian Kelly said he was pleased with Luke’s play.

“I thought he played with confidence. I really liked just his demeanor. I think that’s really big at that position,” he said.

Kelly said it seemed Luke had appeared ready to settle for a backup role until Russell was suspended.

“Once he became a starter you could see everything elevate in the way he walked, the way he talked, the way he went to meetings,” Kelly said. “There was that sense of urgency in everything that he did. I think since that day, we’ve seen a growth in elevation in everything he has done within practice.”

Luke said he bought into Kelly’s doctrine that no player is indispensable.

“Somebody has to step up, regardless of who it is or what position. So somebody had to fill that role. We can’t play with one corner,” Luke said. “I just felt it was my time to step up my game and take it to the next level.”

After last season, when Bennett Jackson graduated, Luke had been expected to vie for a starting position. That changed when Cody Riggs transferred from Florida for his final year of eligibility and took the spot opposite Russell, whom Kelly had been touting as one of the nation’s best lockdown corners.

Before he was suspended, Russell had talked about looking forward to facing Michigan again after struggling in last year’s game, giving up a pair of touchdowns and being called for pass interference in the end zone.

Luke knows he’s in for a challenge Saturday, especially when he’s assigned to cover Michigan’s 6-5 receiver Devin Funchess. Luke believes first-year defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder’s more aggressive style will help the 16th-ranked Irish (1-0) against the Wolverines (1-0).

The biggest problem for the Notre Dame secondary last week against Rice was communication. The other pass completed against Luke came when he and safety Elijah Shumate had a mix-up that left a receiver open.

Luke said the team has been working to improve that, including practicing hand signals.

“It’s something we have to take accountability for,” he said. “It’s something we’re working on.”

He played last season primarily when the Irish used five defensive backs, finishing with a season-best six tackles against Air Force. Luke said competing with Russell and Riggs has helped him, adding that he’s trying to emulate Riggs’ aggressiveness.

From Chandler, Arizona, Luke said even out West he was aware of the Michigan-Notre Dame tradition. He said he’s noticed a buzz around campus because it’s the final scheduled game of the storied rivalry, but he insists that hasn’t affected his preparation for Saturday.

“It doesn’t get in my head,” he said. “Once we step in the building, we step in practice, it’s a different stage. So we’re locked in.”

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