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No. 10 Michigan State has big test against Huskers

By WTOP Staff

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State has done the expected, blasting three outmanned opponents and losing as a double-digit underdog at Oregon.

Now, the No. 10 Spartans (3-1, 0-0 Big Ten) expect tougher challenges, beginning next weekend with a visit from No. 19 Nebraska (5-0, 1-0), the league’s only unbeaten team.

“Nebraska has a very explosive offense,” Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said after Saturday’s 56-14 win over Wyoming. “You’ve got to tackle well in space. You’ve got to be lined up right, first of all. You’ve got to play to a high tempo. Our fans need to get ready because Nebraska is coming to town. They need to be game-ready by 8 o’clock Saturday night.”

The Spartans were ready for everything Eastern Michigan and the Cowboys threw at them the past two weeks, bouncing back from a 19-point loss to the Ducks and winning by a combined score of 129-28.

With 13 touchdowns in the first halves of those games, Michigan State’s starters were diamond-cutter sharp, allowing almost everyone with a helmet to see playing time.

By the end of their final pre-conference game, the Spartans had scored 201 points, a school-record average of 50.3 for August-September, and accounted for 27 TDs on offense. That triples their total from 2013 when they finished third in the nation at 13-1.

“All I constantly ask our football team to do is come ready to play,” Dantonio said. “We want your heart and your soul. We want energy and doing the best we can. Sometimes, things are going to fall our way. Sometimes, they’re not. But I’ve been always been very, very proud of our effort, our toughness and the way we go about our business here.”

The Spartans meant business last fall, becoming just the second Big Ten team and the first in 30 years to beat nine conference opponents, all by double digits. Michigan State’s only game in its last 14 decided by less than 10 points was a 24-20 upset of Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

“I think we have some good momentum going into conference play,” quarterback Connor Cook said. “Obviously, Nebraska is going to be really tough. They have a great offense, a great running back in Ameer Abdullah, a great receiver in Kenny Bell, and it’s going to be a challenge. But I feel like we have the rock rolling a little bit heading into conference play.”

Cook has been as good as any passer in school history, hitting 52 of 74 throws for 820 yards and nine scores, averages of 11.1 yards per try with a TD every 8.2 tosses. He also has run for two scores.

Part of the reason for that has been the development of a 10-deep wide receiving corps, led by Tony Lippett with 22 catches and six TDs. Gone are the memories of a 66-drop season in 2012, replaced by replays of outstanding grabs.

“We’re pretty confident,” Lippett said. “We worked hard, so why not be confident? We just go out there and play fast and play hard. The coaches believe in you, so you should believe in yourself.”

Dantonio and his staff believe in their running backs, too, led by Jeremy Langford, who rushed for more than 100 yards against eight straight conference opponents. After four straight games without 100 yards on the ground, Langford rushed for 137 against Wyoming.

With quality depth, the Spartans believe they are ready to win back-to-back Big Ten titles for the first time since 1965-66, beginning with a team they’ve never beaten at home and a Heisman-caliber, all-around back with three 200-yard rushing days this season.

“We face a great back each week in Langford,” free safety Kurtis Dummond said. “We’ve been facing him since spring. Ameer is a great back, don’t get me wrong, and they have a great receiving corps. But we’ve seen some great backs in practice, so we’ll do what we do, enjoy this win, correct the things that need to be corrected and move on.”

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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