Skip to main content

Loss to Gophers the latest indignity for Michigan

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — No matter what the future holds for Michigan coach Brady Hoke, the Wolverines’ loss to Minnesota certainly looked like a low point of his tenure.

The Golden Gophers dominated Michigan in a 30-14 victory Saturday — the second straight home loss for the Wolverines amid mounting speculation about Hoke’s job status.

Michigan again looked overwhelmed at times on offense, and Hoke is now taking heat not only for the defeat, but for his handling of quarterback Shane Morris after the sophomore took a violent hit in the fourth quarter.

The Wolverines (2-3) lost to Minnesota for the first time since 2005, and Michigan has clearly regressed since 2011, when Hoke led the team to a Sugar Bowl berth in his first season.

“Believe me, there’s guys in (the locker room) who are taking responsibility for what we’ve done,” Hoke said after the game. “I’m talking about players, coaches, everybody. When you look at what’s ahead of us, we’ve got to go back to work and get better.”

Athletic director Dave Brandon did not respond to an email seeking comment on the state of the program and Hoke’s performance.

The Wolverines hadn’t scored an offensive touchdown in their two previous losses, to Notre Dame and Utah. They scored one Saturday to take a 7-0 lead, but still didn’t look capable of any offensive consistency against decent competition. The offensive line, expected to be a strength after Hoke brought his smash-mouth approach to replace Rich Rodriguez’s spread offense, wilted toward the end of last season. The Wolverines still aren’t blocking well enough to protect Morris and fellow quarterback Devin Gardner.

With Michigan down 30-7 early in the fourth quarter, Morris took a crunching hit from Theiren Cockran, who was called for roughing the passer. Morris briefly looked like he was having trouble standing, but he remained in the game for the next play and threw an incompletion before being taken out.

Gardner replaced him, but later on that drive, his helmet came off at the end of a play. While Gardner sat out for a play as required, Morris went back in and handed the ball off to a running back.

Hoke said after the game he didn’t see Morris looking wobbly after the initial hit. He elaborated a bit in a statement Sunday night.

“Shane Morris was removed from yesterday’s game against Minnesota after further aggravating an injury to his leg that he sustained earlier in the contest. He was evaluated by our experienced athletic trainers and team physicians, and we’re confident proper medical decisions were made,” Hoke said. “The University of Michigan has a distinguished group of certified athletic trainers and team physicians who are responsible for determining whether or not a player is physically able to play. Our coaches have no influence or authority to make determinations if or when an injured player returns to competition.”

Michigan plays at Rutgers next weekend in a game that looked like a probable victory before the season. But it’s hard to say any win is certain at this point. The toughest tests may be still to come, with road games against Michigan State and Ohio State.

“You have to have 11 guys playing on the same page every time or you’re bound to have mistakes,” center Jack Miller said. “I feel like it’s something different every time. One thing you try to do in football is not make the same mistakes. If you’re going to make one, make a new one and keep moving forward. Eventually, you hope to run out of them. We haven’t gotten to that point.”

With the Big Ten looking unimpressive this season, 2014 looked like a year when Michigan could make progress after a 7-6 showing. But if the Wolverines don’t turn things around soon, they may not even reach a bowl. Michigan missed the postseason in Rodriguez’s first two seasons, and he only lasted one more. This is Hoke’s fourth season, and the results lately have been unbecoming of one of college football’s most storied programs.

In addition to the losing, fan apathy seems on the rise, with empty seats becoming more common at home games in the area where students sit.

“We know their frustrations and we share their frustrations,” Hoke said. “I would also tell them as a team we all take accountability for it and we also are all going to work together to rectify it.”

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