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Syracuse regroups as it readies for Louisville

By WTOP Staff

JOHN KEKIS
AP Sports Writer

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse has had an up-and-down season, the down part being losses in the last two games.

A 34-20 loss to Maryland in the Carrier Dome on Sept. 20 was followed by a 31-15 setback against unbeaten Notre Dame on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

Now comes a tough home matchup against Louisville (4-1) on Friday night.

“This is a truly resilient group of kids,” coach Scott Shafer said Tuesday. “They come back hungry and ready to go to work. A lot of them have been around the building watching videotape, getting prepared for Louisville. It’s a short week. We’ll be ready to go.”

Against the Irish, who dropped one spot to No. 9 in AP Top 25 this week, the Orange (2-2) forced five turnovers but failed to take much advantage, scoring just 12 points including an interception returned for a touchdown by safety Durell Eskridge.

A run game that purred the week before against the Terps (370 yards) ground to a halt against the Irish. Take away punter Riley Dixon’s 42-yard scamper on a fake, and the Orange gained only 93 yards on 29 carries. That’s less than 3 yards per attempt.

The Syracuse offense led by quarterback Terrel Hunt also was woeful on third down, converting only 3 of 15 chances, compared with 9 of 14 for Notre Dame. The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Hunt, the Orange’s leading rusher at 74.8 yards per game, managed just 26 yards on seven carries against the Irish.

Still, Shafer said he saw improvement in Hunt’s play, with touch in long throws to Brisly Estime and Jarrod West. But he failed to complete a touchdown pass. West had eight catches for 103 yards.

“Terrel has been progressing well. He’s really improved his passing game,” Shafer said. “He did some very good things against a very good defense. I was very pleased with his reads and his progressions. He was on time and on mark probably as well as he’s been.”

One of Shafer’s main focuses again this week is addressing the penalties called against his Orange. There were 10 against Notre Dame, many of them before the ball was snapped. And there have been about four times as many infractions called inside the 30-yard line than outside it, a real cause for concern.

“We have to do a better job with some of the discipline penalties,” Shafer said. “The ones that bother me the most are the ones before the ball is snapped. I think it’s a mental thing more than anything. You don’t want to cause extra pressure in those situations, especially when you get down in the red zone.

“I think, to some degree, the kids want it so bad that sometimes they don’t play with that balance they have to have,” Shafer said. “Are we playing with too much pressure on ourselves? We move the ball up and down the field, and then when we get in a tight zone we haven’t done as good a job controlling the variables that we can control.”

Shafer said right tackle Ivan Foy (knee) and tight end Kendall Moore (concussion) were doubtful for the Louisville game, while Estime (ankle) was day to day.

___

Follow Kekis on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Greek1947

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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