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UNC still trying to find consistent offense

By WTOP Staff

AARON BEARD
AP Sports Writer

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s offense wasn’t supposed to be a question mark.

The Tar Heels entered Larry Fedora’s third season figuring that they would move the ball consistently and put up big scoring totals that could offset some of the defensive problems from last year. And yet, UNC has been up and down heading into Saturday’s trip to No. 6 Notre Dame.

To listen to Fedora, the problem isn’t the scheme or a question of talent. The problems are the result of small mistakes running throughout the unit, whether it’s the footwork by offensive linemen while blocking, the angle a receiver takes in a downfield route or a presnap penalty.

“I would say fine,” Fedora said Monday when asked about the confidence of his offensive players. “But I’m not a guy that wavers up and down on my confidence based on one game. I don’t know how you do that. There’s frustration involved. But I don’t think there’s a lack of confidence in what we do or how we do things.”

The numbers look OK on first glance for the Tar Heels (2-3, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference). They’re in the top third of the league in scoring at 36 points and in the middle of the league in total offense at around 415 yards per game.

But they’re near the bottom of the league in rushing yardage and rushing attempts. Their running backs, including touted underclassmen T.J. Logan and Elijah Hood, aren’t getting many carries and the ground game is largely reliant on quarterback Marquise Williams.

In addition, the Tar Heels have gone through flat stretches.

They didn’t take control of the opener against Liberty until getting a run of four touchdowns in a 4-minute spurt after halftime, aided by several defensive takeaways. They punted on 5 of 7 drives to start the San Diego State win. And against Virginia Tech over the weekend, UNC punted six times and turned it over on downs three others in a 10-possession stretch while falling behind big in the 34-17 loss.

Last year Fedora said that the team’s second-half surge began in part because players began to trust that the guy next to them would do their job. It’s hard to see how that can happen right now considering the number of small breakdowns adding up in different areas.

“That can kill us because if you try to do someone else’s job, you’re not going to be able to do your own,” offensive guard Landon Turner said. “So I think we need to continue to grind and start trusting each other more and doing our own jobs.

“Like I said, it’s that individual battle. Find whatever it is you need to do to fix those little things that you’re lacking in.”

Fedora said there’s only one way to fix the small mistakes.

“You can fix it whenever you decide as an individual you want to fix it,” he said. “I’ve been talking about it from the beginning and will continue to talk about it until those switches do flip.”

___

Follow Aaron Beard on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/aaronbeardap

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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