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Florida begins stretch that could define season

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida coach Will Muschamp calls every game a must-win. Following a lopsided loss at Alabama, it’s really starting to look and feel that way for Muschamp and the Gators.

Florida’s season and Muschamp’s future could be decided in the next month.

The Gators play four games over the next five weeks that might determine whether they’re back in the Eastern Division race or in the market for a new coach. It begins Saturday at Southeastern Conference rival Tennessee, which is a slight favorite despite losing nine consecutive games in the series.

“It’s very critical because the East is wide open right now and everybody has a loss,” running back Matt Jones said Tuesday. “To go in there and beat Tennessee is going to be good.”

It would be a much-needed confidence boost for a program (and fan base) that is coming off its first losing season since 1979, had a scare against Kentucky and was thumped 42-21 at Alabama. Florida (2-1, 1-1 SEC) was off last week and spent the time trying to improve its woeful secondary and get quarterback Jeff Driskel and the passing game operating with more consistency and efficiency.

Neither seems to be an easy fix.

The defense gave up a school-record 672 yards against the Tide, getting burned repeatedly by receiver Amari Cooper early and then getting gouged on the ground late. Alabama threw for 449 yards and five touchdowns, connecting on scores of 87 and 79 yards in the first quarter alone.

Florida had nearly as many defensive breakdowns a week early against Kentucky. The Wildcats hit six passing plays longer than 25 yards, including three for touchdowns. The Gators overcame those defensive lapses and escaped in triple overtime.

Even though Florida won a game it surely would have lost in 2013 and totaled 532 yards, there were calls from fans on talk shows and social media for Muschamp to be replaced. Those grew louder after getting drubbed by Alabama in a game that showed just how wide the gap is between the programs. While only three teams have won in Tuscaloosa since coach Nick Saban’s first season at Alabama in 2007, it was how the Gators were dominated that upset fans.

Florida was outgained by nearly 500 yards, and without Alabama’s 11 penalties, four turnovers and running out the clock in the closing minutes, it easily could have been a 40- or 50-point loss.

Still, the Gators don’t believe they’re that far off.

“I feel as confident as I did before the Alabama game about this team and where we are,” Muschamp said. “We played a very good football team on the road and we had our opportunities and we didn’t get it done. It’s a long season.”

Muschamp’s take clearly has trickled down to his players.

“I think we should have beat them,” Jones said. “I mean, we had ’em. We should have executed better. … They were a very beatable team, and they just pulled away from us.”

While many others likely see that game differently, the Gators are still in control of their fate. With games against LSU, Missouri and Georgia following Tennessee, they could even slip up once and be in contention for the SEC title game in November.

The key to getting there could be Driskel, who played one of the worst games of his college career against the Tide. He completed 9 of 28 passes for 93 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Muschamp and offensive coordinator Kurt Roper are standing behind the fourth-year junior, saying he will start against Tennessee. They even put to rest speculation that freshman Treon Harris would get playing time against the Volunteers (2-2, 0-1).

“We’ve got to be more productive in the passing game,” Roper said. “I think that’s the biggest issue.”

If not, it could be another long season in Gainesville.

The Gators went 4-8 last year and blamed most their issues on a rash of injuries. If athletic director Jeremy Foley wanted to make a coaching change, he surely could have done it after the Gators lost seven consecutive games to end the season or after they dropped a close game against then-lower division Georgia Southern.

Instead, he’s giving Muschamp an opportunity to turn things around.

Chances are everyone, including Foley, will know the outcome in the next month.

“All the goals are still there, got a lot of football to play,” Muschamp said. “Everything’s out in front of us. Let’s go get it. They’re all must wins. When has it ever changed?”

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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