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Michigan State bounces back after Oregon loss

By WTOP Staff

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Coach Mark Dantonio was happy that Michigan State smashed Eastern Michigan 73-14 on Saturday but he was even happier with his team’s approach after a high-profile loss at Oregon and a long week off.

“Anything in the past is in the past,” Dantonio said. “We just need to play forward. Our focus has to be on coming out every game and playing with excitement, playing with enthusiasm, taking care of our job with our mind, our heart and our legs.”

The Spartans (2-1) moved up two spots to No. 9 in this week’s Associated Press poll and left little doubt that they had left a 46-17 loss to the Ducks in the rear-view mirror

“We were all really disappointed about what happened out in Oregon,” quarterback Connor Cook said. “We made it a point with the captains and junior leaders on this team that we were going to put up a lot of points and take out our anger.”

That started with five touchdowns on their first five possessions. By halftime, it was 49-0, and Michigan State added an eighth TD in the third quarter before the Eagles (1-3) got their initial first down.

The Spartans played five quarterbacks for the first time that co-offensive coordinator Dave Warner could remember, subbing players faster than hockey teams change lines.

With just six passes and three runs, Cook put more points on the board than Eastern Michigan’s entire team.

The reigning Big Ten Championship Game and Rose Bowl MVP ran for the game’s first score, then twice found his favorite target, Tony Lippett, to make it 21-0 before the middle of the first quarter.

With the apparent ability to name its score against a program it trailed at halftime two years ago, Michigan State used 10 ball carriers to outrush the Eagles, 336-20. Third-stringer Delton Williams had 103 yards and three TDs on 10 carries, including an 80-yarder to end the scoring with 8:05 left.

“During camp, I was a little banged up, and the bye week helped me a little bit,” Williams said. “I think that’s part of the reason they hadn’t played me. But going into this game fresh really gave me some confidence in myself.”

It wasn’t about the opponent, only about the Spartans and their focus in the program’s third-highest scoring effort since 1932. But Dantonio’s staff will scour the video and come up with coaching points before Saturday’s visit from Wyoming, the last test before a home Big Ten opener against No. 21 Nebraska.

“When you do see a breakdown, you have to try and correct that,” Dantonio said. “There really weren’t many breakdowns in the first half. Again, it was very well-executed, and we capitalized on some of their mistakes.”

With the Big Ten’s most efficient passing game and its best turnover ratio, Michigan State seems back on track to chase another conference title and a berth in the first College Football Playoff.

The Spartans had two brief breakdowns in the second half, allowing Eastern Michigan to score all its points and collect 40 percent of its first downs. But even that hit home with All-America defensive end Shilique Calhoun, who promised better play.

“They were a couple of busted assignments that are correctable,” Calhoun said of not registering a shutout. “That kills me a little more because we should have been in position to make those plays. We messed up ourselves.”

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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