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SEC prepares for recruiting reform, creates model

By WTOP Staff

MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference is preparing for the possibility of recruiting reform, change the football powerhouse would rather avoid.

Commissioner Mike Slive said Wednesday the conference agreed on an early signing day model that would be presented to the Collegiate Commissioners Association if necessary.

The SEC would prefer to keep things status quo, with the signing period starting on the first Wednesday in February.

But if things change, the SEC has an idea.

The conference is essentially responding to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s desire to create an early signing period in August. The SEC wants no part of that. The conference would rather allow recruits to sign on the Monday after Thanksgiving.

“One of the other leagues proposed Aug. 1,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “We think that would be crazy. We think there would be no summer for anybody, no sanity for anybody.”

Added Greg Sankey, the SEC’s executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer: “The ACC decision is not something that was identified as a solution that was practical.”

Under the SEC model, recruits would only be eligible for the early signing date if they haven’t taken any official visits. They would be allowed to visit after signing a national letter of intent.

For recruits wishing to take up to five official visits to various schools, they would have to wait and sign in February.

“If we can clean up some of the things around the edges, meaning there’s a lot of kids that know where they want to go and don’t want to go through the process of wasting all those trips, the time and expense that it takes to take five official visits,” Mississippi athletic director Ross Bjork said. “If you can sign a few kids early to focus on some of the kids you don’t have locked in, then I’m all for looking at that.”

The bottom line, though, is an early signing day would lessen the amount of time coaches spend worrying that kids would change their minds — sometimes repeatedly — in December, January and February.

“Everyone would like some sanity in that regard,” Richt said.

Some coaches, like South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier, would rather keep the current system. Arkansas’ Bret Bielema pushed for an early signing date in the summer, which likely would have made recruiting during the summer as intense an unpredictable as January.

“They don’t have an NFL draft between a player’s third and fourth year, do they?” Spurrier said. “Let them play through high school and see where we are is the smart thing. But some people like all that early signing. Some schools would sign them after their sophomore year if you’d let ’em.”

SEC coaches agree that an early signing day after Thanksgiving would be solely for recruits who know exactly where they want to go to college and don’t need any coaxing.

“It’s the opportunity to give the student-athlete what he wants,” LSU coach Les Miles said. “He’s committed sometimes since the ninth grade, sometimes since May, since the year before, sometimes since this June. And it’s the opportunity for them to not have to wait until February to sign.

“They know where they want to go, they’re comfortable with it. The variables are out and I am going to go to LSU, Florida, Georgia or whatever school.”

The SEC has talked about an early signing period for seven years, but never felt the need to formally finalize a potential proposal. The SEC is hoping the early signing period won’t even be on the agenda when league commissioners meet next month.

But Sankey acknowledged that there’s “mounting interest in an early signing day” in college football.

Finding common ground could be the biggest hurdle.

“I really think we’re going to have a hard time agreeing on something that’s good for everybody just because of the regions of the country,” Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “A lot of the northern schools don’t want kids visiting in January because it’s freezing cold and they lie to them and tell them it’s really warm year-round.

“I’d be for it, but it’s something we’ve discussed a lot in my time here and I don’t think we’re ever going to agree on something nationally.”

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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