Skip to main content

Vandy blows lead, loses 48-34 to No. 14 S Carolina

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Derek Mason is playing more combined freshman than any other coach in the country, and his Vanderbilt Commodores finally showed signs they’re starting to grow up.

They may get even younger if Mason has to go with freshman Wade Freebeck at quarterback.

Darrius Sims returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, tying an NCAA record in the Football Bowl Subdivision, and Freebeck replaced Patton Robinette at quarterback as Vanderbilt blew a 14-0 lead in losing 48-34 to No. 14 South Carolina on Saturday night.

“It was our best overall game,” Mason said. “We are a young, good football team with veterans leading the way. We need to tighten down what we do.”

Mason would not say if Robinette was injured. Robinette left after the first quarter and did not return after he was 4 of 5 for 55 yards passing with a touchdown. Freebeck was 11 of 20 for 168 yards and a touchdown, but he also was intercepted just before halftime with Brison Williams returning the pick 53 yards for a TD.

The Vanderbilt coach said he’d have a better idea of Robinette’s status Sunday. But Mason said Freebeck also showed why coaches are excited about the freshman’s future. The Commodores (1-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) visit Kentucky in their first road game next.

“I’ll see where Patton is and if Wade (starts), we’ll find ways to make it work for Wade,” Mason said. “We ran the ball well. We continued to run the ball well. We’ll continue to run the ball well.”

As pleased as Mason was with Vanderbilt’s improvement, Spurrier was as upset with his Gamecocks in what he called one of the worst wins he’s had.

Dylan Thompson threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran for another score.

“We’ve all seen good football teams, we ain’t one,” Spurrier said. “Don’t say we’re one right now. The way we play? Maybe we can be? I don’t know. It’s no fun for me watching us play tonight.”

Spurrier now has 202 Southeastern Conference wins, breaking a tie with Vince Dooley and putting him second only to Paul “Bear” Bryant (292). Spurrier also got his 20th win all-time against the Commodores.

The Gamecocks (3-1, 2-1) started slow coming off their 38-35 win over Georgia in their first road trip this season. They got going by scoring 17 points in the second quarter, part of 24 straight points that gave them the lead for good, and beat Vanderbilt for a sixth straight time in this series.

The Commodores pulled to 34-27 with 5:57 left but couldn’t get closer as the Gamecocks answered with two TDs.

Thompson finished 22 of 34 passing with his TD passes to three different players as he completed passes to seven receivers. South Carolina outgained Vanderbilt 449-379 in total offense, and the Gamecocks turned two turnovers into 14 points.

Sims’ TDs was the 18th time that’s happened and first since 2012. He returned the opening kick 91 yards for a TD and then took Vanderbilt’s first kickoff in the second half 100 yards to pull the Commodores to 24-21.

“We kept running right by the kickoff return guy, and he split us just about every time,” Spurrier said.

Vanderbilt got the start Mason needed off Sims’ kickoff return. Robinette made it 14-0 with an 8-yard TD pass to C.J. Duncan in the final minute of the first quarter. Vanderbilt held the ball for more than 9 minutes and outgained the Gamecocks 86-30.

The Gamecocks took control after Robinette left, scoring with a 45-yard field goal by Elliott Fly, a 29-yard pass from Thompson to Damiere Byrd for a TD. Vanderbilt was driving when Freebeck threw off his back foot and was intercepted by Williams.

Vanderbilt had its chances to recover three fumbles in the second half only to see the Gamecocks get the ball back each time.

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