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Michigan, Minnesota both with QB uncertainty

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Amid all the big-picture issues facing Michigan’s football program right now — empty seats, fan frustration and the future of coach Brady Hoke — the Wolverines have a more immediate question to resolve.

Devin Gardner and Shane Morris are Michigan’s two main options at quarterback, and Hoke hasn’t said who will start Saturday against Minnesota. Whoever it is will be under pressure to revive an offense that has not looked good at all against decent competition.

Not that the Golden Gophers will have all that much sympathy. Their quarterback situation has also been up in the air with Mitch Leidner recovering from knee and toe injuries.

“I felt pretty comfortable back there,” said Chris Streveler, who played quarterback last weekend when Minnesota beat San Jose State. “I didn’t feel rattled or anything like that. Obviously, I could’ve thrown some better balls for the receivers to catch.”

Streveler completed only one pass, but that didn’t matter because Minnesota (3-1) ran for 380 yards in that game. Leidner hasn’t played since Sept. 13 against Texas Christian. He’s been out with a left knee injury and turf toe on his left foot.

Michigan, meanwhile, is trying to bounce back from a 26-10 loss to Utah last weekend that led to plenty of speculation about whether a coaching change could be on the horizon if things don’t improve. The Wolverines (2-2) struggled to move the ball against the Utes, and Morris eventually replaced Gardner at quarterback.

Gardner has thrown six interceptions this season with only five touchdown passes, while Morris is 7 for 20 with two interceptions in limited duty. Those two have been competing this week for a job that had been Gardner’s previously.

“It is more competition, and then there is the leadership end of it too — who commands the offense,” Hoke said. “They have both done a really good job all year with that. I don’t expect any of that to change from that standpoint. I think we would rather not (play both quarterbacks). That has not been in our discussions.”

Here are a few more things to watch when Michigan and Minnesota open their Big Ten schedules:

TURNOVERS: Michigan’s outlook might be different right now if the Wolverines hadn’t turned the ball over 11 times in the last three games, but now Hoke’s group has to face an opportunistic Minnesota team that has forced 13 turnovers this season.

Of course, the Gophers turned the ball over five times themselves at TCU in what is their only loss so far.

ATTENDANCE: Michigan drew 102,824 for a win over Miami (Ohio) two weekends ago — the team’s lowest mark at Michigan Stadium since 1995. The number improved only slightly to 103,890 against Utah. Those are still lofty attendance figures by most standards, but there have been significant pockets of empty seats in the area where students usually sit — not a good look amid all the other questions about the state of the program.

BANGED UP: It’s not just Leidner who has been dealing with injuries. Minnesota TE Maxx Williams (calf), DB Marcus Jones (broken hand), and DE Alex Keith (knee) have all been recovering as well from various health issues. How much can the Gophers withstand?

TOUGH D: The blame for Michigan’s uninspiring start does not fall on the defense, which allowed only one offensive touchdown against Utah. No team has gained more than 286 yards against Michigan.

CAN THEY RUN?: Michigan’s Derrick Green rushed for a total of 307 yards in wins over Appalachian State and Miami, but he was much less productive in the two losses. The Wolverines still need to prove they can block consistently for their quarterbacks and running backs against tougher competition.

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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