Skip to main content

Andersen concerned about Wisconsin QBs

By WTOP Staff

JIM HOEHN
Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Melvin Gordon needs some help in Wisconsin’s backfield, and coach Gary Andersen is hoping someone seizes the Badgers’ unsettled quarterback spot.

So far, neither Tanner McEvoy, who won the starting job because of his threat as a runner, nor Joel Stave has been the answer, leaving the Badgers with a one-dimensional offense. Gordon had 259 yards rushing in Saturday’s 20-14 loss Saturday at Northwestern.

McEvoy and Stave will play this week when the Badgers (3-2, 0-1) host Illinois (3-3, 0-2).

“That’s the direction that we potentially can move, I hope, as we go forward, to play within the strengths of Joel, play within the strengths of Tanner,” Andersen said Monday. “And then, quite frankly, if one of them turns around and runs away with it and is more productive, then that’s the direction that you go.”

McEvoy, who spent most of last season at safety after a short stint at wide receiver, was yanked after four ineffective series against the Wildcats. He completed 4 of 10 passes for 24 yards with one interception.

Stave, who started all 13 games last season and passed for 2,494 yards and 22 touchdowns, then struggled in relief. He completed 8 of 19 passes for 114 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, including a costly pick on first-and-goal from the 3-yard line with 3:55 left and Wisconsin trailing 20-7.

Andersen said using two quarterbacks will not necessitate major changes to the offensive scheme.

“Tanner can run our offense and he can also give us the flavor of some of the option stuff that he’s done, which is great, without adding new plays right now, just move the pocket a little bit more, do some different things for him,” Andersen said.

“Joel, on the flip side of things, can get that ball down the field like we hope he can. He showed two very, very nice balls that were thrown in the last game and his ability to take the top off the coverage and his ability to be involved in the throw game I believe will be a huge positive.”

After his career-best performance against Northwestern, Gordon took over the top rushing spot in the nation, averaging 174.2 yards per game. Over the last three games, he is averaging 231 yards.

“We’ve got to keep moving forward. It’s still a long season,” said Gordon, who rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns against Illinois last season. “We’ve got to hope some things go in our favor with no question of losing. We just have to win out.”

A young receiving corps also has hampered both quarterbacks. Alex Erickson has 25 receptions, but no other wide receiver has more than five.

Andersen did not rule out moving the athletic McEvoy back to wide receiver.

“There is a learning curve again, but it’s a possibility,” he said. “Let me put it that way.”

There also has been a drop-off in receptions out of the backfield, compared to last season when James White caught 39 passes for 300 yards. Corey Clement has six receptions and Gordon five, with a long of just 8 yards.

“The screen game has not been great for us,” Andersen said. “I think the swings to Melvin and the swings to Corey are in the game plan weekly. Our ability to be consistent and get in those dump-off throws and those throws to them have not been as good.”

Wisconsin, which dropped out of the Top 25 with the loss to Northwestern, has won eight of the last nine meetings against Illinois, including the last four. Illinois’ lone victory in that stretch was a 31-26 win against the fifth-ranked Badgers in 2007.

The Illini also will be without quarterback Wes Lunt after he broke his left leg during Saturday’s 38-27 loss to Purdue.

But safety Michael Caputo said the Badgers are in no position to look past anyone.

“You always have to the Big Ten seriously or you’ll come out and you’ll lose every time,” Caputo said. “If you think that that Big Ten’s down or if you think that this team’s not very good, you think you’re just going to blow by them, they’ll come out and they’ll sweep your legs out from under you.”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Iran fires missiles and US strikes Iran facility after reports of faltering peace talks

Jalen Brunson is playing for an NBA championship and maybe for the title of best Knick ever

Pro-Trump candidate takes spotlight in Colombia’s presidential race with vow of crime crackdown