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Iowa searching for answers on offense

By WTOP Staff

LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — This was supposed to be the year that Iowa flourished under offensive coordinator Greg Davis.

Three games in, the Hawkeyes look inept.

Iowa (2-1) scored only 17 points against Ball State and Iowa State and is 102nd out of 128 FBS teams in scoring at 21.7 points per game.

What is troubling about those numbers is that the Hawkeyes basically brought back their entire offense, and Davis is now in his third year calling plays.

Coach Kirk Ferentz reiterated his support for Davis on Tuesday as the Hawkeyes prepare for their toughest test yet, a date with unbeaten Pittsburgh (3-0) on Saturday.

“Greg is an outstanding teacher. He’s an outstanding human being. He’s a solid person,” Ferentz said. “But if you’re in it long enough, you’re going to get your tail kicked. That’s just the way it goes. That’s part of the deal. If you can’t deal with it, you probably have to do something else.”

If there is one thing that is clearly lacking at Iowa, it is big plays. The Hawkeyes aren’t making any.

Iowa has completed three passes that went over 20 yards. To put that number in perspective, national-leader Western Kentucky has 21.

There appear to be a number of issues holding Iowa’s vertical attack back.

Iowa’s receivers aren’t turning the short passes, favored by Davis, into drive-sustaining gains. Quarterback Jake Rudock and his receivers often seem to be on different pages on longer routes, and the line allowed four sacks against the Cyclones.

Iowa also has a pair of potential solutions on the bench in explosive redshirt freshman Derrick Willies and senior Damond Powell, a junior college transfer in his second season with the Hawkeyes.

Neither caught a pass in last week’s 20-17 loss to the Cyclones, which ended with a 42-yard field goal with 2 seconds left.

“They’re young guys. Derrick is young chronologically. Powell, as you remember, he’s been here for a year basically,” Ferentz said. “Nothing against either of those guys. It’s just where they’re at right now. They’ve got growth to make.”

Part of the reason Iowa’s passing game is struggling is that its running game is also struggling.

Iowa is averaging just 3.6 yards a carry. None of the four backs in its rotation have reached 100 yards rushing for the year.

The decision to rest Mark Weisman to keep him fresh for the second half of games and the second half of the season has resulted in a career-low 3 yards a carry for the senior.

The Hawkeyes were intent on establishing the run against Iowa State last weekend, but they were largely ineffective. The Hawkeyes scored just three points after halftime.

Iowa ran for 129 yards on 44 carries — and Rudock had 12.

“We haven’t found the right rhythm, right tempo,” Ferentz said.

Iowa doesn’t need to suddenly become an offensive powerhouse for the program to have a successful year, largely because the Hawkeyes have been outstanding on defense.

But the Hawkeyes simply have to start scoring more points if they hope to compete in the Big Ten West.

Given how bad the league has looked so far, even marginal offensive improvement might be enough to make Iowa a contender.

“We’re doing it in practice. We just need the opportunity to make them in a game. Hopefully, we’ll get those chances this upcoming week,” senior wide receiver Kevonte Martin-Manley said. “We feel like if the ball is in our hands, we can make those plays.”

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Follow Luke Meredith on Twitter: www.twitter.com/LukeMeredithAP

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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