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Hokies look to make big plays, and prevent them

By WTOP Staff

HANK KURZ Jr.
AP Sports Writer

The numbers seem incongruous.

Virginia Tech’s defense ranks 27th nationally, allowing 325.6 yards per game, but is among the worst when it comes to giving up big plays. Only eight Division I schools, out of 128, have allowed more plays covering 20 or more yards than the Hokies, who have allowed 32.

The numbers are more than a little troubling for a program that has always had defense as its calling card.

“One of the basic rules of our defense is just don’t give up the long play,” coach Frank Beamer said this week. “When you give them a long play, that’s a lot of snaps that they didn’t take. The more snaps they take, the better the percentages are with our defense that something good’s going to happen.”

The Hokies (3-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) have also struggled making big offensive plays of their own, with just 21 that covered 20 yards or more, and just seven that gained at least 30 yards.

They hope to do better on both fronts Saturday when they play at North Carolina (2-2, 0-1).

In one fewer game, the Tar Heels have 17 plays of 20-plus yards, and seven of 30-plus. On defense, they have been even worse than the Hokies, allowing 29 plays that covered 20 or more yards. They are ranked 124th in the nation, allowing 543 yards per game.

The numbers, however, can quickly get skewed by a missed assignment or other mistake.

“There’s always going to be mistakes that you make and things that you can do better on,” Hokies cornerback Kendall Fuller said, noting that the potent spread offense of No. 22 East Carolina and Georgia Tech’s triple-option presented special challenges. “I think against ECU and Georgia Tech and the type of offenses that they have, I think we still did pretty good. There might be three, four, five plays, you know, that we made mistakes on, but at this level, those three, four plays can cost you a game.”

Both teams are prime examples of how costly defensive mistakes can be for a team.

“Those are just mental mistakes,” said North Carolina coach Larry Fedora, whose team has allowed nine plays of 40 or more yards and six that went for at least 50. “They’re not because they’re base things, they weren’t something that was exotic that we put in for that game. They were just basic mistakes.”

The Hokies would love to get their offense untracked with a few like that on Saturday.

Quarterback Michael Brewer and his wide receivers have grown frustrated with their inability to connect on many plays deep downfield, but Brewer says the good news is that aren’t that far off.

They had a few near-misses last weekend in a 35-17 victory against Western Michigan.

“I bet we were about three or four plays away from scoring 50 something points, which is frustrating, but like I’ve said previously, it’s frustrating but at the same time, it’s there,” Brewer said.

“It’s not like we’re talking about a lot of things we have to drastically improve on.”

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AP sports writer Joedy McCreary contributed from Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

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Follow Hank on twitter at: http://twitter.com/hankkurzjr

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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