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Illinois hopes to extend Purdue’s struggles

By WTOP Staff

DAVID MERCER
Associated Press

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — Illinois coach Tim Beckman was asked this week if Saturday’s game against Purdue is a must win.

“Every game’s a must win,” Beckman said before quickly moving on.

This one, though, may be more so than most for the Illini (3-2, 0-1 Big Ten).

The Boilermakers (2-3, 0-1) are probably the most clearly beatable opponent still on the schedule for the Illini.

Get that fourth win and the search for the two more that would get the Illini to a bowl game gets easier. And with just nine total wins and one conference victory in his first two-plus seasons in Champaign, Beckman and the Illini could use a bowl appearance.

Lose to Purdue and the path to six wins is much less clear with remaining games against Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio State, Iowa, Penn State and Northwestern.

Purdue might look at Illinois as one of the more manageable opponents it faces, too. The Illini defense, in particular, has struggled, giving up a conference-worst 35 points a game.

The Boilermakers’ offense, which didn’t score a touchdown in last week’s 24-10 loss to Iowa, could certainly use a boost, coach Darrell Hazell said.

“Oh, there are certainly things that need to be fixed,” he said.

Things to look for Saturday at Memorial Stadium:

LUNT’S BACK: A week after missing the 45-14 loss at Nebraska, quarterback Wes Lunt confirmed he’s ready to return.

Lunt sprained his right knee two games ago against Texas State and finished that game but was held out against the Cornhuskers.

Illinois has to like its odds better with Lunt. The redshirt sophomore is averaging a Big Ten-best 309.2 yards a game and has thrown for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s engineered second-half comebacks in all of Illinois’ wins.

Pressuring Lunt, who doesn’t run well, will be important, Hazell said.

“He wants to be in the pocket. He does not like to be pushed outside the pocket,” Hazell said.

BOILER RUSH: Coming off that injury, Lunt can’t take much comfort in the Boilermakers defense he’ll see. Purdue is third in the Big Ten in sacks with 13.

The quarterback will need to know when to throw the ball away, Illinois offensive coordinator Bill Cubit said.

“Don’t wait to throw the ball out of there and live another day,” Cubit said.

QUARTERBACK QUESTION: Purdue managed just 72 passing yards in last weekend’s 24-10 loss to Iowa and didn’t score an offensive touchdown.

That performance had Hazell hedging his answer when asked whether usual starter Danny Etling or backup Austin Appleby would start this week, or even, for that matter, what factors would go into the decision.

“We’ll know when we see it,” Hazell said.

RUN DEFENSE: Illinois’ has been rough. Nebraska’s Ameer Abdullah had 208 yards on 22 mostly first-half carries and three touchdowns last Saturday. The Illini are giving up a Big Ten-worst 229.6 yards a game on the ground.

And the Boilermakers have shown they can run.

Akeem Hunt is averaging 6 yards a carry and 53.8 a game, including 90 against Iowa. Raheem Mostert, who sat out the Iowa game, is averaging 58.6 yards a game.

Hazell said Purdue should have the chance to move the ball against Illinois.

“We’ve got to break tackles. There are going to be opportunities to hit big plays if we can break some of those tackles,” he said.

ROAD TRIP: If Purdue can take comfort in any piece of its schedule, it’s the seven home games.

Saturday will be the Boilermakers’ first real road game after four games in West Lafayette and one, against Notre Dame, in Indianapolis.

And Purdue will only hit road three more times this season, at Minnesota, Nebraska and Indiana.

___

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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