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No. 18 Badgers get boost headed into early bye

By WTOP Staff

GENARO C. ARMAS
AP Sports Writer

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen likes to use a basketball analogy when talking about what he would like to see from the offense in times of trouble.

In the case of Tanner McEvoy, the quarterback hit easy layups when he wasn’t open on the perimeter.

The 18th-ranked Badgers (1-1) head into an early-season bye week on a positive note after McEvoy shrugged off a slow start.

Lower-division Western Illinois took away Melvin Gordon and the vaunted running game, so McEvoy had to show he could make a defense pay.

To Andersen, it’s all about hitting the easy shots.

“To be able to get out in that screen game, if they’re going to give you one … if they are going to give you layups, let’s make layups, not sit there and make jump shots all day long,” Andersen said.

It’s all part of the education of first-year starter McEvoy, who won a preseason competition for the job over incumbent Joel Stave.

McEvoy had a difficult debut in Week 1 against LSU. The struggles carried over into the first half against Western Illinois, when McEvoy started 1 of 3, including an interception that had some fans groaning. There were more boos after he overthrew open tight end Sam Arneson on a rollout left on a second-and-14.

McEvoy came right back to Arneson on the next play for a 22-yard completion for a first down. Soon enough, McEvoy was on a roll, completing 17 straight passes from midway in the second quarter to the end of the third.

“Oh wow,” said Arneson, who was unaware of the McEvoy’s streak. “I thought he was really locked in.”

Western Illinois dared Wisconsin to throw, something that pretty much every other team will do until the Badgers prove they can throw on a consistent basis. And even then, foes may likely prefer to take their chances with McEvoy than Gordon anyway.

McEvoy and offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig will have to adjust on the fly, like they did Saturday.

Wisconsin faked more handoffs to Gordon as the game progressed and used more screens. The screen game helped sophomore Alex Erickson get a touchdown and record career highs of 122 yards and 10 catches.

“They were giving us those screens, those bubbles,” McEvoy said. “We’ve got to take whatever the defense gives us.”

The next step is to carry the success over week to week.

Gordon was held to 38 yards on 17 carries, while backup Corey Clement had 57 yards on nine carries — surprising figures for two talented runners against an FCS school.

The Fighting Leathernecks stacked the box against what is considered one of the top offensive lines in the Big Ten. Andersen also noted that the team sorely missed fullback Derek Watt, who is out for about two months following surgery for a right foot injury suffered against LSU.

“The loss of Derek is big for this offense. It’s unseen maybe to a lot of fans or people out there,” Andersen said.

Still right tackle Rob Havenstein placed blame for the running game struggles on the front five.

“You can put that squarely on the shoulders of the offensive line. “No matter how many guys they put in the box — 10, 11, 13, 27 — it doesn’t matter,” Havenstein said. “We’ve still got to get that run game going.”

___

Follow Genaro Armas at http://twitter.com/GArmasAP

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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