Skip to main content

Hokies’ goals still in reach after stunning loss

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

Virginia Tech’s roller-coaster start has brought games that matter back into focus.

The Hokies (2-1) open Atlantic Coast Conference play Saturday against Georgia Tech (3-0). Like the Hokies, the Yellow Jackets are a perennial contender in the conference’s Coastal Division.

The Hokies are coming off a 28-21 loss to East Carolina, which followed their equally stunning victory at Ohio State. Their disappointment was a wakeup call.

“We expect to win every game,” quarterback Michael Brewer said. “Obviously that didn’t happen this past week, and there’s some things we need to correct, some mistakes we need to correct, and we’ll do that.

“Now the big picture: we want to win our side and make it to the ACC championship, and this is the first step to do that.”

The Yellow Jackets are also playing their first league game, and they feature coach Paul Johnson’s triple-option ground game, which has given many teams fits. Georgia Tech ranks 15th nationally with an average of 306 yards rushing per game. The Hokies have allowed just 254 yards rushing in three games.

Virginia Tech brings a four-game winning streak in the series into the game, but has a number of younger players on defense, which makes getting ready more challenging, coach Frank Beamer said.

“Georgia Tech is just different from anyone else we’ll play, and it’s tough,” said Beamer, who is 19-3 in conference home openers. “It’s not what the coaches know. It’s what you can get your players to react to, and having a lot of new guys on defense, if they played against it a couple times, I think it helps.

“But we got some guys there that are new to the deal, so got to coach ’em up. Coach fast.”

The Hokies’ last four victories in the series have been by an average of seven points, and the Yellow Jackets are eager to put those in the past. Two years ago, Virginia Tech tied the game with seconds left in regulation and won in overtime. Last season, three turnovers helped greatly in a 17-10 road win.

“They’ve had our number the last couple of years,” Johnson said Tuesday.

Any chance the Hokies had of taking this game lightly surely evaporated last week. Riding high after the win at Ohio State, they quickly trailed 21-0 and allowed East Carolina to throw for 427 yards.

Beamer made sure they knew, in their disappointment, that their goals are still achievable.

“We’ve talked about us getting better as a football team,” Beamer said. “We don’t put blame. We found out what went wrong, figure that out, correct it and hopefully play better this week. So that’s where we are, and certainly our players understand how important the first ACC game is.

“And since it’s against Georgia Tech, I think it’s even more important.”

Making sure everyone is looking ahead, and not back, is key, Brewer said.

“We can’t hang our head and feel sorry for ourselves and let it affect this next week, this week of practice,” he said. “That’s done with. It’s over. We’ve already watched all the film. We’re starting on Georgia Tech and that’s the main focus now.”

___

Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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