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Mike Zimmer meets Mike Zimmer at Vikings camp

By WTOP Staff

JON KRAWCZYNSKI
AP Sports Writer

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Mike Zimmer, meet Mike Zimmer.

The Minnesota Vikings saw enough during a tryout earlier this month to bring second-year linebacker Mike Zimmer to camp this season. And Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says it has nothing to do with the linebacker’s name or background.

The coach and the player are not related. But in an uncanny coincidence, they both have the same name and both went to college at Illinois State.

“It’s been funny because all through college some of the old Illinois State people have told me about him,” the linebacker said with a smile on Thursday after practice. “It’s tough because I can’t even Google myself. Other than that it’s been a real pleasure working with coach. He’s such a great defensive mind. It’s been really nice.”

Mike Zimmer the player graduated from Illinois State in 2013 and spent the preseason last year with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Vikings, who are in need of depth at linebacker, brought him in for a tryout a couple of weeks ago to get a closer look.

Zimmer, the first-year head coach who played defensive back in his college days, grinned when he was asked if the sky is the limit for a player named Mike Zimmer with an education from Illinois State.

“I don’t know,” the coach said. “Illinois State is a good school so I don’t want to be negative on that, so we will see.”

Mike Zimmer the linebacker led the Redbirds in tackles as a senior and had 4½ sacks.

“He’s a good, smart, instinctive player,” the coach said. “He needs an opportunity like everybody else that is here.”

The younger Zimmer, who is 23, said he’s received a few sideways glances and a couple of jokes from his new teammates, but other than that it’s been a smooth transition to Minnesota. He met the coach he’d heard about so often in college for the first time earlier in May and said he feels comfortable with Zimmer’s straight-forward, no-nonsense coaching style.

“He talked a little about how he was athletically at Illinois State,” Zimmer the player said. “He was actually No. 10 and I was No. 9. So it adds to a little of the craziness. He joked a little about it.”

All the fun and games are done now. As a free agent with little pro experience, Zimmer is a long shot to make the team. If he does find a way onto the team out of training camp, he will be one step closer to stepping out of his coach’s shadow and becoming the most famous Mike Zimmer to ever come out of Illinois State.

“That might be tough, with coach,” he said with a laugh. “I’m not really worried about that. Just keep working hard every day.”

There’s no way a coach named Mike Zimmer could cut a player named Mike Zimmer, is there?

“Hey, they will cut me,” the coach cracked. “I’m not worried about cutting him.”

___

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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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