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Iowa State unable to overcome controversial calls

By WTOP Staff

CHUCK SCHOFFNER
Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State seems to have a knack of getting tangled up with close calls that generate frustration, controversy and, in the latest case, some sharp criticism by the athletic director.

The Cyclones have brought much of it upon themselves because they haven’t been able to overcome whatever has gone against them. In three recent games that included disputed calls, the Cyclones lost all three — two of them by less than a touchdown.

“We’ve just got to respond to stuff like that,” offensive lineman Jake Campos said Monday. “There’s been a lot of plays in film we’re watching when we’re one block away or one cut away. We’re like, we’re so close. There’s a lot of plays we could bust wide open. We’ve just got to get the little tiny things cleaned up and those things will start breaking for us.”

The latest flare-up occurred during and after Saturday’s 37-20 loss to No. 16 Oklahoma State.

With the score tied at 6, the officials ruled that Oklahoma State’s Desmond Roland was stopped short of the goal line at the end of the first half. The play was reviewed and the replay official reversed the call, giving the Cowboys a 13-6 lead.

Frustrated by that decision and some earlier calls, athletic director Jamie Pollard lashed out at Big 12 officiating after the game and said the Cyclones “have been on the short end of the stick” time and time again.

The Big 12 responded Monday with a public reprimand and a $25,000 fine for Pollard, with league commissioner Bob Bowlsby saying his rant was “irresponsible and completely baseless.”

Iowa State also has taken issue with a catch by Kansas State’s Tyler Lockett along the sideline earlier this year — the replay official and replay communicator were suspended for one game for failing to review the play — and a play in last year’s game with Texas when the Longhorns’ Johnathan Gray was ruled down while ISU linebacker Jeremiah George was running the other way with the ball. In both cases, the opponent scored on the next play.

In the Oklahoma State game, the Cyclones could have avoided any controversy if they had simply fielded a kickoff. Instead, OSU recovered at the Iowa State 11 and Roland scored five plays later. Then the Cyclones allowed Tyreek Hill to return the second-half kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown and the Cowboys dominated the game from then on.

“Our special teams didn’t have the best day,” kicker Cole Netten said.

The offense didn’t, either.

“You can say whatever you want about the call on Saturday, whatever it is, it should or shouldn’t have been a touchdown, I don’t think it won or lost us the game by any means,” quarterback Sam Richardson said. “We shot ourselves in the foot too many times as an offense. We didn’t give ourselves a chance to win that game, honestly.”

In the Kansas State game, Lockett’s catch came late in the first half with Iowa State leading 28-13. The Wildcats rushed to the line of scrimmage after the play and quarterback Jake Waters scored to cut the lead to 28-20.

With plenty of opportunities to increase the lead in the second half, the Cyclones went scoreless and lost 32-28.

The Cyclones also had their chances against Texas last year. They had second-and-goal at the Texas 4 late in the game and a touchdown could have put it out of reach. But they ended up kicking a field goal and Texas went on the decisive drive that produced a 31-30 victory.

Also in that game, Iowa State gave up a 44-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass on the final play of the first half.

Richardson said the Cyclones have to figure out a way to overcome such setbacks.

“You can’t fret about it, you can’t think about it at all,” he said. “You’ve just got to play the play in front of you.”

Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads declined to comment on the specifics of Pollard’s remarks. But he did welcome the support.

“I am privileged to have a boss that is that passionate about this athletic department and this university that he was willing to stand up and say the things that he did,” Rhoads said. “I benefit from that as the leader of this program and certainly our coaching staff does as well.”

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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