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QB Legaux returns from gruesome knee injury

By WTOP Staff

JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) — Munchie Legaux’s grandmother and aunt decided to fly in for Cincinnati’s home opener. Even if the fifth-year senior quarterback got on the field for only one play, they weren’t about it miss it.

Not with all that he’s been through: The doctors saying that his career was finished, the knee acting up even as he beat the odds and made nearly a full comeback in less than a year.

There were some emotional times at Paul Brown Stadium after the Bearcats beat Toledo 58-34 on Friday night in their season opener, with Legaux getting on the field for a half-dozen plays.

“There were tears,” Legaux said on Tuesday. “You could see this big nervousness on their faces. They can relax now that I’m finally back.”

Not all the way back, but close.

Legaux was the Bearcats’ starter last season, but didn’t make it through the second game. He was hit on his left leg while passing during a 45-17 loss at Illinois. The leg twisted, everything tore. He severely damaged two ligaments and cartilage.

When he got to the hospital, the doctors didn’t hide their concern. Such a devastating injury could mean it was time to get on with his life away from football.

“Right after the injury, just lying in the hospital, hearing the doctors talk — they were saying it’s over for me,” Legaux said. “I was like, ‘Wow, is it really over for me?’

“Honestly for a quick second, I thought yes, maybe it’s over. I had that moment, had that thought in my head for a slight second. After that, I stayed positive.”

He decided to try anyway. The NCAA granted him a redshirt season. He couldn’t do much more than throw a football during spring camp. By the time fall camp came around, he was ready to play.

Notre Dame transfer Gunner Kiel won the starting job. Legaux and junior college transfer Jarred Evans became the backups. Coach Tommy Tuberville decided to use all of them in games, keeping them ready in case of injury.

In the week leading up to the opener, Legaux went on social media and shared a photo of the moment before he got hit during the game at Illinois.

“I kind of posted it to get over my fear of playing again — just go out there and step into throws,” Legaux said.

On Friday night, Tuberville decided to send in Legaux for the final series of the first half with Cincinnati ahead 41-14. Before he headed onto the field, Legaux took a moment to reflect.

“When he told me I was going to finish the first half, I thought about everything for a second, all the hard work I put in to overcome that injury,” Legaux said. “I kind of took it in, took a deep breath and went out and played football.”

He completed 4 of his 5 passes for 18 yards and scrambled once for five yards, heading out of bounds.

Tuberville figured that was enough for his first time back. He plans to get Legaux into the game again on Saturday night when the Bearcats host Miami of Ohio (0-3).

“I’d like to have him play a little more,” Tuberville said. “At least we got him into the game. Now he understands that, hey, this thing is going to work. I think we’re going to be able to use him.”

Tuberville got emotional watching Legaux go onto the field.

“People don’t really understand what they go through,” Tuberville said. “I remember last year we were over there (at the hospital) and the doctor kind of told me, he said, ‘Coach, he’s done.'”

When Legaux’s series was done, he came to the sideline and got hugs. He’s received an avalanche calls, texts and congratulations on social media in the last few days.

“It’s just tremendous,” he said. “I’m just taking it all in. And smiling, of course.”

___

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

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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