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Howard’s leadership from goal will be key for US

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Tim Howard releases an “Ahhh!” that echoes through empty Stanford Stadium as he makes a diving stop during a basic keep away drill.

True to form, the American goalkeeper is good-naturedly running his mouth about as much as he’s running around during World Cup training camp, sporting one of the biggest grins in the group.

During that same warm-up drill, Howard razzed fellow goalkeepers Brad Guzan and Nick Rimando at every chance. Nobody would want it any other way.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann is counting on that constant chatter and so much more from Howard to lead an inexperienced U.S. defense into the World Cup opener against Ghana on June 16.

Howard’s leadership figures to be crucial next month during a daunting Group G with three tough tests: Ghana, the team that sent the U.S. home from the past two World Cups; Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in the Amazon heat; and a match with Germany, the team Klinsmann coached to the 2006 semifinals.

Already among the best goalkeepers of his generation and near the top of England’s Premier League, Howard is leaving his mark on U.S. soccer, too.

“We need a Tim Howard that gives them confidence,” said Klinsmann, who announced his 23-man roster Thursday. “We need that very vocal Tim Howard. And that’s what he’s doing. It’s fun to watch. He’s looking over their shoulder; he gives them advice, not only on the field when we train, but also when they hang out in the cafeteria as a group together. He is making sure that they are confident, that they know what they’re doing, and also that they can make mistakes, because nobody’s perfect.”

Howard also helps keep everybody loose while doing the grueling work that Klinsmann considers necessary to catch up with much of the rest of the World Cup field.

That gregarious style is quite a change for defender Geoff Cameron from his usual goalie with Stoke, Asmir Begovic.

“He’s just a different yeller, you could say. I love playing in front of Tim,” Cameron said Thursday. “He’s got the experience. When he’s yelling at you, it’s not in a disrespectful manner. It’s just telling you directions and he see things differently than what I see. You always want eyes behind you telling you what to do.”

During one session, Howard made that dive to his left in front of Rimando of Real Salt Lake and volleyed the ball some 15 yards off his left hand.

“That’s the way, Tim!” shouted U.S. goalkeeper coach Chris Woods, who tutored Howard on David Moyes’ staff at Everton until last summer.

Howard, who followed other top Americans to England such as Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, last month signed a two-year contract extension through 2018 and is likely to close out his career with Everton. He’s still considered in his prime for the position at 35.

The 6-foot-3 Howard had 15 shutouts — one behind co-leaders Petr Cech of Chelsea and Arsenal’s Wojciech Szczesny — in 37 league matches this season.

He has spent eight years as the Toffees’ starter after a three-season stint with Manchester United. From North Brunswick, New Jersey, he also played six years at home with the New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

While this could be Howard’s last hurrah with the national team to clear the way for backup Guzan to take on a larger role, he also might have one more World Cup in him.

With 97 career national team appearances, if he were to play all three of the sendoff exhibition games before departing for Brazil on June 8, Howard could tie Keller for most caps by a goalie with the national team — or pass him in the American World Cup opener.

Back from the cool English air, Howard is basking in the California sun at Stanford leading up to Tuesday night’s exhibition against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park.

“He’s been fantastic. It speaks volumes about someone to spend most of their career in England, especially in the Premier League because it’s such a tough league,” Guzan said. “Consistency’s such a big factor of that. Hats off to him, because it’s not easy. You see so many players who go over there for maybe a year or two and they come back. It’s not ideal for them and it doesn’t work out for whatever reason. Tim is obviously one of those guys that made it work and persevered through the tough times. He’s loved by everyone out there.”

Howard will be the first goalie to be No. 1 for the U.S. in consecutive World Cups since Tony Meola in 1990 and ’94.

NOTES: D Omar Gonzalez, who allowed fans to vote on what his new haircut should be, debuted his new ‘do Thursday. “I just wanted to stop worrying about my looks and just start focusing on my play and the task at hand,” he said. Gonzalez, who arrived at camp nursing a left knee injury sustained May 3 with the Los Angeles Galaxy, is now 100 percent and participating in full training sessions.

___

AP Sports Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.

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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