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Cougars treating No. 2 Oregon like any other foe

By WTOP Staff

NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
Associated Press

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — No. 2 Oregon is as high profile as a team gets but Washington State linebacker Cyrus Coen says he sees the high-flying Ducks as just another “faceless opponent.”

“We’re going to do the same thing we do every day,” Coen said. “Work hard, that’s it.”

Hard work is what the Cougars can expect when they host Oregon and Heisman contender Marcus Mariota on Saturday night in Pullman. The Ducks (3-0) have beaten their first three opponents by a combined score of 156-54, including a Michigan State team that came into its game with Oregon boasting a fearsome defense. Washington State, meanwhile, staggers into its Pac-12 opener at 1-2.

Still, the Cougars say they won’t treat this game any differently.

“It doesn’t matter who we play,” Washington State wide receiver Dom Williams said. “We can play the Seahawks. You just go out there and play. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is.”

But he acknowledged that players do get anxious before big games.

“I say a little prayer and think about my grandma,” Williams said. “It helps me calm down.”

Washington State is looking to improve on last year’s game at Oregon, where the Cougars lost 62-38.

The Cougars sacked Mariota three times in the first half. Mariota also lost a fumble that defensive lineman Xavier Cooper picked up and returned for a touchdown.

“The way we came off the ball and attacked the offensive line, we were hungry to get to Marcus,” defensive tackle Kalafitoni Pole said. “That was the biggest thing, we were hungry to get there.”

“If we consistently do that this week we’ll have a good chance against him,” Pole said.

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday threw an NCAA-record 89 passes against Oregon last time, for what was a school-record 557 passing yards. The Cougars broke that record last Saturday when Halliday and backup Luke Falk combined to throw for 630 yards against Portland State, an FCS team.

Receiver Isiah Myers caught 11 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns against Portland State. He leads the Pac-12 with 26 receptions and 423 yards receiving this season. This week, Myers was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.

“He’s explosive,” coach Mike Leach said. “He hasn’t been streaky at all this year. He’s become a really reliable guy.”

Myers is also benefiting because defenses have been focusing on receiver Vince Mayle early on.

“I think having a good one on each side will open them both up,” Leach said. “It’s hard to tend to both of them.”

NOTES: Washington State ranks No. 15 nationally in total offense, and is averaging 557 yards per game … Halliday’s average of 471.7 yards of offense per game trails only Brandon Doughty of Western Kentucky … WSU’s 706 yards of total offense against Portland State were a school record, breaking the previous mark of 693 set against Idaho in 1975 … The seven passing touchdowns last weekend tied a school record.

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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