Skip to main content

Notre Dame faces first tough test vs. Stanford

By WTOP Staff

TOM COYNE
Associated Press

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Ninth-ranked Notre Dame is about to face its stiffest challenge this season.

After beating four teams with a combined record of 7-11, with none of those opponents’ victories coming against Power Five conference teams, the Fighting Irish (4-0) on Saturday host 14th-ranked Stanford (3-1), which has the nation’s top-rated dense. The Cardinal also has beaten the Irish four of their last five meetings.

So it’s the first real test for a young Irish squad coming off a sloppy victory over Syracuse where they won despite five turnovers. Coach Brian Kelly said he doesn’t think of the game against Stanford in those terms.

“We really focus on how we need to do to get better. We turned the ball over. We gave up some big plays on the perimeter. We focus a lot more on that stuff than the bigger picture issues,” he said Tuesday, adding the focus of the coaching staff is developing players. “We are not an experienced group and if we sway too far from working on getting out of our breaks and taking a direct snap, because we may fumble it, we’re going to be in trouble. So that’s where I really have to stay as a task master when it comes to those details.”

The Irish are ranked higher than the Cardinal but are one-point underdogs, just the second time since the start of the 2011 season that an opponent has been favored over the Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. The other time was last season against Oklahoma, when the Irish were 3.5 point underdogs. The Sooners won 35-21.

That was the only home loss for the Irish in the past 16 games after starting 6-5 at home under Kelly. He attributed the improvement to a number of factors, including having better teams and making changes to the team’s pregame routine, such as practicing at the stadium on Thursday and moving the pregame Mass from the morning of the game to the previous afternoon.

“At Notre Dame, there’s a lot that goes on and probably just setting what I feel like is a really good schedule for our guys that doesn’t overload them and then really, getting them to feel comfortable and relaxed at home,” he said. “I felt like early in my time here, we were a little uptight and maybe trying to do too much. I think we have relaxed and played a lot more comfortable and really look at it as a home-field advantage.”

Two year ago, the Irish beat Stanford with a goal-line stand in overtime to win 20-13 and send their confidence soaring as they improved to 6-0 during an undefeated regular season. Kelly said that 2012 squad just believed they would win close games, also beating Pittsburgh in overtime.

“Each year is a different group,” Kelly said. “So we have not been in that situation yet here.”

The Irish have scored 30 or more points in their opening four games, the first time they’ve accomplished that since the 1943 season, when they won a national championship. The Irish also haven’t allowed more than 17 points, so none of the games has been close and the Irish have been behind this season for fewer than three minutes.

That’s expected to change as the Irish face Stanford and then play at top-ranked Florida State in two weeks.

NOTES: Kelly said he doesn’t know whether the results of disciplinary hearings for five players being held out of practices and games while the university determines whether they were involved in academic impropriety will be released one at a time or all at once. Honesty committee hearings are scheduled for this week, but Kelly said he doesn’t know when decisions might be made. Even after the players are informed, the players have a week to appeal. Kelly wouldn’t say whether any of the players have asked him to appear at their hearings.

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