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Auburn gets Marshall 3 quarters of work in rout

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Auburn coach Gus Malzahn had several reasons for leaving quarterback Nick Marshall on the field through the third quarter of a blowout victory.

The fifth-ranked Tigers were trying to take full advantage of their final tuneup heading into an open date before visiting No. 19 Kansas State in a Thursday night game. Plus, Marshall had only played the second half of the opener against Arkansas because of a suspension and attempted just six passes.

Reason No. 3: “He’s one of the better zone read quarterbacks in college football,” Malzahn said. “That’s what we do.”

Marshall had plenty of success doing that for the Tigers (2-0). He rushed for 103 yards and scored on a 27-yard scamper on the final play of the third quarter Saturday in the 59-13 victory over San Jose State.

Marshall still hasn’t demonstrated that his passing has improved substantially. He was just 10 of 19 for 101 yards and a touchdown.

“There were a couple throws that I could have made, but I just have to go out and practice to get better for next week,” Marshall said.

Malzahn said the coaches wanted Marshall to get as many snaps as they could before inserting backup Jeremy Johnson. An offense that led the nation in rushing last season has been most productive on the ground with Marshall on the field, despite an offseason emphasis on more balance.

The Tigers ran for 358 yards against San Jose State and gained 302 on the ground in the second half of the opener. Cameron Artis-Payne finished with 112 yards and three touchdowns for his second straight 100-yard effort. Corey Grant has topped 80 rushing yards in both games.

Receiver Sammie Coates missed the game with a knee injury, but is expected back against Kansas State.

Marshall and Auburn didn’t need to pass much Saturday night, though potentially his biggest play ended badly. He sprung loose for a 49-yard gain on the opening drive but had the ball knocked out near the goal line for a touchback.

“It was at the last second, when I was about to celebrate, that he punched it out,” he said. “Being a quarterback, you have to have a short memory, to put it behind you and play the next play.”

Now, the focus can turn to the next game. Marshall and the Tigers still have seven ranked teams remaining on the schedule, four of them in the Top 10.

They’re hoping to take advantage of the extra time before facing Bill Snyder’s Wildcats, coming off a 32-28 win over Iowa State.

Quarterback Jake Waters scored on an 8-yard run with 1:30 left to avert the upset.

“We are going to work on improving ourselves and try to get a head start,” Malzahn said. “We are playing a very good team on the road with one of the better coaches that has ever walked the planet. We will have to have a good plan and have to be prepared.”

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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