Skip to main content

Notre Dame celebrating shutout win over Michigan

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame linebacker Joe Schmidt could hardly believe what happened.

The Fighting Irish had not only just finished their most lopsided victory ever in the 42-game series with rival Michigan a 31-0 victory, but did so with an exclamation point when Elijah Shumate returned an interception 61 yards for a touchdown as time ran out.

The fact that the touchdown was called back because safety Max Redfield was called for a penalty for leveling quarterback Devin Gardner during the return didn’t matter much to the 11th-ranked Irish.

“Shoot, this is a great feeling,” Schmidt said. “We’re just happy right now. We’re on a high note.”

It was a feeling shared by Irish fans everywhere who were left seething a year ago when Michigan played the “Chicken Dance” over its speaker system after a victory by the Wolverines, alluding to the fact that Wolverines coach Brady Hoke accused the Irish of “chickening out” of the series.

The dominating victory allowed Notre Dame to keep the title of college football’s winningest program with a winning percentage of 73.34 to Michigan’s 73.21. Coupled with Texas’ loss to BYU, it allowed the Irish to move back into a tie with the Longhorns for second in the FBS for most total wins with 876. Michigan has the most at 911.

The biggest thing for the Irish, though, was finishing the rivalry with a dominating victory and ending Michigan’s NCAA record streak of games without being shut out at 365 games.

“Beating them the way that we did is exactly what we wanted,” Redfield said. “We couldn’t be happier.”

Considering how lopsided the score was, it was surprising to see that the Irish managed just 54 yards rushing and that the Wolverines finished with 9 yards more of total offense in a game where they otherwise were thoroughly whupped.

The difference was big plays. Notre Dame made them when it needed to and Michigan repeatedly didn’t.

Michigan’s opening drive foretold what was coming. The Wolverines got going quickly as Gardner completed his first six passes, five on the opening drive when the Wolverines drove to the Notre Dame 30.

On second-and-3, Gardner threw a screen pass and Irish defensive back Matthias Farley hit Dennis Norfleet instantly for a 2-yard loss. After a Michigan timeout, Gardner dropped back but couldn’t find a receiver so he scrambled and appeared to have an opening. But Irish linebacker Jaylon Smith raced up and tackled Gardner at the 29. Then Matt Wile missed a 46-yard field goal wide right.

It turned out to be Michigan’s best scoring opportunity in a night where the Wolverines were able to get yards but their drives repeatedly stalled against a young an unproven Irish defense.

“We were able to finish off drives where Michigan was not able to finish off drives,” Kelly said. “When you cross the opponent’s 40 yard line, you have to score points. Michigan did not do that. “

Notre Dame’s had some shutouts against power five conference teams in recent years, including 38-0 against Wake Forest two years ago, 22-0 vs. No. 21 Maryland in Tyrone Willingham’s first game in 2002 and 44-0 against Pittsburgh in 1993. But the last time the Irish shut out a team for a school known as a football power was 7-0 when the sixth-ranked Irish beat No. 5 Alabama coached by Bear Bryant in 1980.

Redfield said the defense had fun shutting out the Wolverines.

“We had just as much fun on the first play as the last play. Obviously beating them the way we did is exactly what we wanted and exactly what we prepared for. We couldn’t be more happy.”

Redfield said he didn’t think his hit on Gardner was dirty, saying he is coached on an interception to find the quarterback.

“So I hit Gardner the way I was taught,” he said. “If I knew I was going to get a penalty for it, I wouldn’t have done it.”

Kelly also said he had no problem with the hit.

“Max did not size up somebody or target a player. We felt like in that situation he was doing his job,” he said.

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