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No. 1 Florida State could be down 3 starters

By WTOP Staff

KAREEM COPELAND
Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Top-ranked Florida State could be missing three starters when the Seminoles play at Syracuse on Saturday.

Coach Jimbo Fisher announced Monday center Austin Barron is out with an arm injury and will be replaced by redshirt freshman Ryan Hoefeld. Leading receiver Rashad Greene suffered a concussion in last weekend’s 43-3 win against Wake Forest and has not been cleared to return. Running back Karlos Williams injured his ankle during the game and is in a walking boot.

Redshirt sophomore Mario Pender would replace Williams if he is unable to play and freshman Dalvin Cook would be the primary backup. Pender and Cook have run for a combined 382 yards and five touchdowns.

“If I had to give a percentage, I would say yes” Williams will miss the game, Fisher said. “But it’s how guys heal and where they’re at.”

Sophomore Jesus “Bobo” Wilson could start in place of Greene, but freshman Travis Rudolph is also a candidate. Greene is four receptions from setting the school record for career catches.

The Seminoles could also be a play away from an emergency situation at quarterback. Backup Sean Maguire is out after injuring his hand against Wake Forest. Fisher said Jameis Winston’s backup would either be redshirt freshman John Franklin or walk-on redshirt freshman Troy Cook.

Neither has ever thrown a collegiate pass and Franklin has spent much of the season working as a receiver.

The Seminoles have had a variety of short-term ailments keep players out of games this season after being relatively-injury free during the title run.

Starting defensive end and Pender both missed the N.C. State game with concussions. Nose tackle Niles Lawrence-Stample is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle. His replacement, Derrick Mitchell, Jr., missed last week with a knee problem and cornerback P.J. Williams has missed a game with a hamstring issue.

“You’re always concerned, but … they’re not pulls and tears,” Fisher said. “When you run a bunch of big guys into each other, things break sometimes.

“That’s just ball. You get a bunch of bodies falling around out there, that happens. … Sometimes the gods smile on you, sometimes they don’t. That doesn’t mean you still can’t have success. You’ve got to have a plan.”

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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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