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WSU’s Bucannon brings big-hitting style to Arizona

By WTOP Staff

BOB BAUM
AP Sports Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Crediting his upbringing in a military family for his passion for the game, Deone Bucannon was introduced as the Arizona Cardinals’ first-round draft pick in a thoughtful, insightful news conference.

A big-hitting strong safety, whose thumping exploits are widely available in online videos, Bucannon was selected 27th overall on Thursday after the Cardinals traded down from the No. 20 spot, getting New Orleans’ first-round pick and a third-round selection.

He is the highest drafted player from Washington State since Seattle took cornerback Marcus Trufant at No. 11 in 2003.

At his Friday news conference, Bucannon acknowledged pre-draft reports that he had trouble in pass coverage.

“Everybody has their own opinion,” he said. “Everybody thinks they know about different things. I could throw out all my stats right now, but that’s not going to help anybody. That’s not going to make you guys believe any more.”

But, he said, “In my heart, I feel I can do anything.”

If he works out at strong safety, Arizona would field an impressive secondary, once Tyrann Mathieu returns to free safety after recovering from major knee surgery. Patrick Peterson is at one cornerback, with recently signed free agent Antonio Cromartie at the other.

Bucannon broke down in front of his family when the Cardinals called him and told him they were going to select him. Of the 20 teams that looked at him, the Cardinals were by far his favorite destination, he said.

That desire had its roots in a dinner he had with general manager Steve Keim and other members of the Cardinals’ top brass.

“They were not only talking to me as a player, but as a person,” Bucannon said. “They cared about what I did off the field. We were just talking about life. It wasn’t just about football.”

Bucannon’s passion for football went a long way toward convincing the Cardinals he should be their pick. He traced that to his family, where his father was a Marine and his mother in the Navy.

“My dad told me, ‘Don’t play this game if you’re just going through the motions,” he said. “That’s not why I play this game. I play this game because I love it. I love the camaraderie. I love making plays for my team.”

The big hits, Bucannon said, come naturally, from his start in Pop Warner football to high school, then college.

Keim called him “a headhunter,” and Bucannon is aware of the NFL’s rules regarding nasty hits.

“I’m not going to sacrifice any of what got me here, through my aggressiveness and playmaking ability, and I’m still going to do that on the field,” he said.

He said he was recruited by only four teams out of high school — Washington State, San Diego State, Cal Poly and Nevada.

Bucannon chose Washington State, toiling in relative obscurity in faraway Pullman, Washington, for a program that was a longtime loser before finally making a bowl appearance in Mike Leach’s second season as coach last year.

“That’s how I flew under the radar,” he said. “… I’m going to use that as motivation. I’m going to go out there and show them why I’m out here on the field. I want to be a pro — not want to be, I am a pro. This is what I live to do. “

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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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