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No. 22 Clemson hopes to upset No. 1 Florida State

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney has seen too many underdog success stories to worry about what others think of his team’s chances at top-ranked Florida State this week.

Swinney said the 22nd-ranked Tigers (1-1) have practiced with confidence and urgency in prepping for the Seminoles (2-0), their Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and the perception they have less chance of winning this time than a year ago in their 51-14 Death Valley debacle.

Clemson is a 20-point underdog, a massive margin for a game between ranked opponents.

Swinney recalled his senior season at Alabama in 1992 when the Crimson Tide were two-touchdown underdogs to No. 1 Miami. But Alabama won the national title game, 34-13.

“Here’s the deal: We didn’t think of ourselves as underdogs, and this team doesn’t see themselves as underdogs,” he said Tuesday.

Still, it likely takes orange-tinted glasses to give the Tigers much hope against the Seminoles.

A year ago, the team was led by record-setting quarterback Tajh Boyd, an NFL first-rounder in receiver Sammy Watkins and 1,000-yard rusher Rod McDowell — all gone from the offense. While Florida State has had its share of players moving to the NFL, Winston’s steady hand is back in control and looking to build on an 18-game win streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both clubs.

Even worse for Clemson is the game’s location in Tallahassee where the Tigers are 3-11 all-time with its last win coming in 2006.

“I’m sure that nobody outside of Clemson believes that we can win this game,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “But we feel like we can win every game. That’s our mindset.”

Florida State outlasted dangerous Oklahoma State 37-31 in its opener before defeating FCS opponent Citadel 37-12 the next week.

Clemson is still in transition, especially on offense with new quarterback Cole Stoudt and a new cast of receivers to fill in for Watkins and fellow NFL draftee Martavis Bryant. The group looked confident their first half at Georgia this season, picking up 276 yards. But the Tigers floundered down the stretch, gaining only 19 yards and one first down the rest of the way in a 45-21 loss.

The Tigers cranked up the attack a week later for a 73-7 win over Football Championship Subdivision opponent South Carolina State, which offensive coordinator Chad Morris saw as a confidence builder headed into Florida State.

Both the Tigers and the Seminoles had last week off to prepare for the contest, where the winner has gone on to the ACC Atlantic title and the league championship game since 2009.

All Swinney has heard since they last played was how the Tigers can’t beat Florida State. He tunes it out and believes his players have, too.

“Good Lord, if you pay attention to that stuff, we’d all be going crazy around here,” he said. “I mean, we’ve won seven top-11 games since I’ve been the head coach I be you we were the underdog in all of them.”

Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams said the Seminoles aren’t taking Clemson lightly, despite the new faces on offense. “It’s a big test, it’s going to be just as good as Oklahoma State,” he said.

Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher has prepared for two Clemson quarterbacks in Stoudt and freshman Deshaun Watson. While Stoudt is more of a drop back passer, Watson is a dual threat to run and pass. Watson leads the Tigers with four touchdown passes.

Swinney has talked down any quarterback issues, solidly behind Stoudt as the starter and Watson as a promising newcomer who deserves some time. “It’s not a controversy, it’s a great situation is what it is,” Swinney said.

Every Tiger musts step up if Clemson can pull off the upset. Florida State has its flaws, even if those don’t show up too often, Swinney said.

“They’re not robots. They’re humans,” Swinney said. “But you’ve got to find a way to win those competitive match ups. Because at the end of the day, it’s a simple game. If we go down there and we don’t win the turnover margin and they have more big plays, it’s probably going to be a long night for the Tigers.”

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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