Skip to main content

Todd Gurley with another Heisman-like performance

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Todd Gurley wasn’t in the mood to discuss the Heisman Trophy.

He never is.

So we’ll let a Georgia teammate speak for him.

“He’s been my Heisman choice since the season started,” Bulldogs cornerback Damian Swann said. “I’m pretty sure he’s about to put one heck of a campaign together.”

Actually, Gurley’s campaign is already up and running.

Big time.

The junior running back added to his resume Saturday with a career-best 208 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 35-32 victory over Tennessee, a performance that included one of those signature moments that figures to stick with Heisman voters throughout the season.

Midway through the fourth quarter, with Georgia clinging to a 28-25 lead, Gurley took a handoff from quarterback Hutson Mason, shook off two would-be tacklers in the backfield, and got loose down the sideline. Tennessee safety Brian Randolph raced over and dove at Gurley’s legs, a familiar tactic for bringing down someone with his speed and power.

But the running back channeled his inner Edwin Moses — Gurley was, after all, a champion hurdler in high school — and leaped over Randolph. While Gurley lost his balance a bit on his landing, he still managed to sprawl forward for an extra 10 yards.

No doubt, that’s a play you’ll see over and over again this season, any time there’s a discussion of the leading Heisman contenders.

“What he’s doing, I’ve seen it. I’ve seen it in practice,” Swann said. “I mean, he ran track. He ran the hurdles. Jumping over a safety is like him jumping over a hurdle. So whatever he does, a lot of people might be amazed by it, but I just sit back and shake my head like, ‘He did it again.'”

Gurley set a school record with 293 all-purpose yards in a season-opening victory over Clemson, a performance that included 198 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, plus a 100-yard kickoff return. Against Tennessee, he put up the most rushing yards by a Georgia back since Garrison Hearst went for 246 in a 1992 game.

Gurley was at his best in the fourth quarter, when the teams kept trading touchdowns and the Volunteers had a chance to pull off a major upset. First, he broke off a 51-yard touchdown run right down the middle of the field, barely touched at all. Then, showing off his hurdling chops, he helped set up a Bulldogs punt that pinned Tennessee against its own end zone, followed by a fumble that Georgia recovered for a touchdown. Finally, after the Vols scored with just over 2 minutes remaining but failed to recover an onside kick, Gurley carried six straight times for a pair of first downs to run out the clock.

“Just a big freak out there running around with a lot of athletic ability,” Mason said.

As usual, Gurley deferred when someone asked about his Heisman chances.

“I just worry about winning, dude,” Gurley said in the locker room after the game, his pants covered in grass stains. “If you win every game, that’s going to come.”

The No. 13 Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) got off to a winning start as they began a stretch of seven straight league games, and regained control of their own destiny in the Eastern Division when South Carolina — which handed Georgia its lone loss — was upset at home by Missouri.

But this was hardly an impressive performance against a team that was blown out two weeks earlier by No. 4 Oklahoma, costing Georgia one spot in the latest Associated Press poll.

While Gurley and his freshmen backups, Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, have led an impressive running game that is averaging 300 yards per game, Mason and the passing attack have yet to show they can beat teams through the air.

Mason, a fifth-year senior finally getting a chance to start after backing up Aaron Murray his entire career, still hasn’t thrown for even 200 yards in a game this season. He was picked off twice by the Vols, helping Tennessee stay in the game.

In the end, Gurley’s Heisman chances could largely rest on how well his team does — and that’s still a work in progress.

“The Heisman really, in my opinion, is a team award in a lot of ways,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt, who worked with a pair of Heisman winners, Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke, as an assistant at Florida State. “You’re not going to win unless your team is winning. You’re really not.”

Richt paused and reconsidered that stance just a bit.

“Every once in a while, there’s a guy that might be on an 8-4 team, an 8-5 team, that might be in the mix,” he said. “Todd is the kind of guy, I think everyone sees the talent. He can probably be on a team that’s 6-6 and still be in the running with how impressive a player he is.”

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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