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Lineman returns to his love: the football field

By WTOP Staff

EDDIE PELLS
AP National Writer

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The seizure, the weight loss, the false-start of a comeback. Derek Wolfe endured them all while always keeping one goal in mind: Getting back on the football field.

“That’s my life, that’s my love,” the Broncos defensive lineman said Monday, after the team’s latest offseason workout. “It’s what I love to do. Take that away from me and I’d have a rough time.”

That Wolfe kept football on the front burner through the difficult times is a testament to the third-year veteran’s love of the game. This was not, by any means, your typical football injury.

Wolfe suffered a seizure during the bus ride to the airport for Denver’s flight to Kansas City last Nov. 29. He ended up in the hospital for several days, and was put in a medically induced coma while doctors performed procedures to rule out a brain tumor.

Out of danger and released from the hospital a week later, Wolfe hurried back, and was at practice as the Broncos prepared for the AFC championship game against New England.

But he had dropped about 20 pounds and was low on energy. He couldn’t get much done, even working on the edges of the defensive line — not the interior, which is where he was used to playing.

“I wasn’t feeling right, and I didn’t tell anyone I wasn’t feeling right,” he said. “That came back to bite me. It’s kind of my fault. I tried to push it aside because we were playing great and I didn’t want to miss out.”

He missed the Super Bowl — not such a terrible game to miss, it turns out — and now he’s getting ready for the 2014 season, playing on the inside, and back at his ideal weight at around 290 pounds.

“He’s a motivated kid,” coach John Fox said. “Football’s a pretty big part of his life.”

The lessons learned from his harrowing weeks on the sideline: “It’s taking things in stride, saving my energy for game day,” Wolfe said.

Other linemen, including Malik Jackson, have stepped up in Wolfe’s absence. There are no guarantees the 2012 second-round draft pick, who has 10 sacks over his first two years, will get his starting job back.

He doesn’t shy from the competition. Says he appreciates it, in fact.

Simply being back on the field is the reward that means the most to him right now.

“Something happens and you don’t know if you’re going to be able to play again,” Wolfe said. “To be out here and to feel better than you’ve ever felt, it’s an emotional feeling. It’s a happy occasion.”

Notes: Draft picks Cody Latimer (WR), Matt Paradis (C) and Corey Nelson (LB) all signed their rookie contracts with the Broncos on Monday. All were at practice.

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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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