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Spurrier happy South Carolina’s back on track

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Steve Spurrier has learned a bit more about No. 24 South Carolina — and likes what he’s discovering.

The Gamecocks coach says he understands that right now his players can’t match the group that went a program record 11-2 in each of the past three seasons. But he saw a fire on the sidelines and improvement on the field in a 33-23 victory over East Carolina.

“I think we’re starting to realize what kind of team we are,” Spurrier said. “We’re going to have to scratch and get in a bunch of close games and try to find a way to win.”

That’s what took place Saturday night when the Gamecocks (1-1) withstood an early blitz by the Pirates (1-1) and gradually gained control on both sides of the ball.

East Carolina was up 13-7 and hadn’t been stopped by South Carolina midway through the second quarter. That’s when the Gamecocks’ defense dug in to force some stops, first with a three-and-out and then with Gerald Dixon Jr.’s field goal block, the Gamecocks first since 2011. South Carolina added a pair of interceptions in the second half, then clinched things with a field goal drive that ate up nearly 11 of the game’s final 12 minutes.

The result was a much-needed bounce back victory that infused the players with confidence heading into the next game with No. 6 Georgia.

“We’re not quite as talented as some of our teams in the past, that’s obvious,” Spurrier said. But “the kids hung in there and played their hearts out.”

Mike Davis finished with 101 yards rushing — his first 100-yard game since Nov. 2 against Mississippi State — and two touchdowns. Dylan Thompson threw for 266 yards and a touchdown. Along with Dixon Jr.’s blocked field goal, Sharrod Golightly and T.J. Gurley had second half interceptions to thwart an East Carolina (1-1) comeback.

The Gamecocks secured things with a dominant final drive, shaving almost 11 of the final 12 minutes off the clock through ball control thanks to an energized offensive line.

“You can’t start talking about this game without talking about the offensive line,” Thompson said.

It was a positive trend all the way around after the horror show that was last week’s 52-28 loss to Texas A&M that sent many fans looking to jump off the Gamecocks bandwagon.

Georgia enters on a high after a 45-21 victory over Clemson. Georgia runner Todd Gurley showed his speed and power with four touchdowns, including a first-half kickoff return after Clemson had taken a 21-14 lead.

South Carolina’s defense says it’s ready for the challenge.

“I feel like we made a good stride forward and got the ‘W’,” said Golightly. “But we still have a long way to go. We have a big game next week. We have to buckle up because it’s an SEC game. And it’s all on the line so we have to toughen up for next week.”

The Gamecocks were picked to win the SEC Eastern Division this summer and can regain an edge with a win against Georgia. For that to happen, South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward says the players will have to tap into the energy and spirit they did this week to recover for the Aggie defeat.

His unit lost several key performers from a year ago, including No. 1 NFL draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, and the replacements haven’t yet filled those shoes. Ward understands the Gamecocks can’t wait too long if they hope to continue their past success.

“We’re playing with a young team, but it’s no excuse,” Ward said. “We were preaching all week about playing with emotion. They were playing with a lot of enthusiasm and I thought they did that early in the game (and) I thought we got better as the game went on.”

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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