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On a bye, No. 2 Oregon gets back to basics

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

There’s nothing like a close call to get a team’s attention. Washington State did that for the No. 2 Ducks.

The Cougars pulled even with Oregon in the final quarter of last week’s game between the two teams, but Marcus Mariota confidently led the Ducks back for a 38-31 victory.

With a bye this week before next Thursday’s game against Arizona, Oregon went back to basics.

“We’re kind of in improvement mode in every phase,” coach Mark Helfrich said about this week.

The Ducks are 4-0, including their statement-making victory over then-No. 7 Michigan State in Week 2 and the victory over the Cougars in the conference opener, but a few issues have cropped up.

Oregon has been hit by injuries on the offensive line, with starters senior Jake Fisher and junior Andre Yruretagoyena both out for the foreseeable future.

The Ducks started freshman Tyrell Crosby at left tackle, and Matt Pierson made his first start at right tackle against the Cougars. But the inexperience on the line showed, and Washington State sacked Mariota seven times.

“It wasn’t always the new guys,” Helfrich said. “That’s just a matter of maybe a little bit of human nature: Sometimes if a guy’s missing at a certain position guys try to overcompensate and do too much. And that’s the worst thing because now you weaken two positions instead of just one.”

The off-week has allowed the new players to get more reps against the first-team defense. Oregon has moved defensive lineman Stetzon Bair to the offense.

There’s also some unease about Oregon’s defense. Overall, the Ducks are ranked last in the Pac-12 for total defense, allowing an average of 443.5 yards per game.

While Oregon’s numbers were no doubt hurt by Washington State’s prolific Air Raid offense and quarterback Connor Halliday, the Ducks were also working this week to shore up their defense. The Cougars had 499 yards of total offense in the game.

“We had about 200 yards of — I don’t want to say ‘given’ offense — but missed tackles, lost leverage, lack of communication. And that’s simple stuff,” Helfrich said.

Despite the challenge from the Cougars, Mariota said the game proved to the Ducks that they could win the close ones.

“It gives you confidence that when things are going a little tough, that you can battle through those things and fight through those situations,” he said.

With a few days of rest and the start of classes this week, the Ducks planned to start focusing on the Wildcats on Saturday.

Last year Oregon was ranked No. 5 when the team traveled to Tucson and fell 42-16 to the Wildcats. The loss, their second of the season, knocked the Ducks out of the national championship picture and cost them a fifth straight BCS bowl appearance.

Ka’Deem Carey terrorized Oregon, running for 206 yards and four touchdowns. The Ducks had three turnovers and turned the ball over on downs twice.

Mariota was intercepted on the first play from scrimmage. That ended his Pac-12 record string of 343 straight passes without an interception.

As it turned out later, Oregon’s quarterback was hampered by a knee injury that he had been nursing for several games.

This week, Mariota played down the idea that the Ducks would be motivated by revenge at Autzen Stadium next Thursday night.

“Some people use it as a motivating factor,” he told reporters. “For us it’s just another game.”

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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