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Illinois expects Lunt to return against Purdue

By WTOP Staff

DAVID MERCER
Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt is expected to return Saturday against Purdue after he was a surprise scratch from the lineup last weekend at Nebraska, coach Tim Beckman said Monday.

Lunt was told Friday that he wouldn’t play against Nebraska after suffering a right-knee injury the week before in a win over Texas State. The team kept it quiet until just before game time at Nebraska on Saturday.

The injury, which offensive coordinator Bill Cubit said was “like a little sprain,” meant Lunt wouldn’t have been able to move well enough to protect himself, Cubit and Beckman said.

“I don’t think you take a quarterback and allow them to blitz like they did and play a quarterback that’s not totally healthy,” Beckman said.

Lunt’s play might not have made a difference in the outcome in the 45-14 loss to the Cornhuskers. Illinois (3-2) couldn’t stop running back Ameer Abdullah, who had 208 yards and three touchdowns. That more than anything decided the game.

But Lunt is one of the Big Ten’s top passers. He has 11 touchdowns and is averaging a conference-best 309.2 yards a game.

Backup Reilly O’Toole was 17-38 for 261 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. The Cornhuskers sacked him four times.

Neither quarterback was available during Monday’s regular media session.

Lunt is practicing but Cubit said he still wants to see the redshirt sophomore show “a little mobility. We’ll see if he can protect himself.”

Lunt was hurt by his own man in the third quarter of the win over Texas State two Saturdays ago, Cubit said. One of his blockers lost his balance and was knocked back into Lunt’s knee.

Talking about it Monday, Cubit shuddered. Lunt never left the game, insisting he wasn’t injured and playing on what the offensive coordinator said was adrenaline. By Sunday he had trouble walking.

“I think we’re really, really fortunate that it wasn’t a major injury,” Cubit said.

Purdue (2-3) doesn’t have a pass rusher who has gotten the attention of Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, but the Boilermakers have 13 sacks, third in the conference and more than the Cornhuskers. Defensive tackle Ryan Watson has four of them.

Lunt has a history of injuries dating to high school. He lost the starting job at Oklahoma State his freshman year because of an injury before transferring to Illinois.

Making quick decisions with the ball in his hands, including throwing it away when he needs to, will be important for Lunt if he wants to stay upright Saturday, Cubit said.

“When we get rid of the ball quickly, we’re OK, we’re not getting hit,” Cubit said. “Its’ when there’s indecision. That’s where you hold it, that’s where you get hit.”

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NOTES: Beckman said Illinois tried 18 different kinds of blitzes against Nebraska to try to get defensive penetration after Abdullah started running wild. The Cornhuskers finished with a combined 458 yards rushing and five touchdowns. … The coach acknowledged his defenders struggled to shed blocks against Nebraska, something he said they continue to work on. … The Purdue game looks like one of the more winnable games left on Illinois’ schedule as it tries to find three more victories and a trip to a bowl, but Beckman insisted Monday that the game is no more of a must-win than any other.

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Follow David Mercer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmercerap

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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