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Buccaneers expect to be better under Lovie Smith

By WTOP Staff

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have gathered for the start of their first training camp under Lovie Smith, a self-proclaimed fan of Michael Jackson’s music.

The struggling franchise’s new coach inherited a team that went 4-12 and missed the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season in 2013.

Six months later, Smith is drawing from the theme of one of the King of Pop’s big hits to set the tone for what he hopes will be a breakthrough year for the team.

“I talked in the offseason about the man in the mirror … just about having a career year,” Smith said Thursday, stressing the importance of self-improvement and reflection to every player’s development.

“No matter how you played so far, we need all of us to have the best years that we’ve had,” the former Chicago Bears coach added. “It starts out there. It’s not a magic pill. It’s just hard work, going to work from today on.”

Smith and first-year general manager Jason Licht have overhauled the roster through free agency and the draft. Of the 89 players expected in camp, which officially begins on Friday, 48 are new to the team. That includes 28 veterans and 20 rookies, including first-round draft pick Mike Evans.

With the exception of injured offensive lineman Carl Nicks, who was excused from reporting because of personal reasons, the entire squad was at One Buccaneer Place for meetings on Thursday.

Smith said safeties Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron, who sat out the entire offseason program while recovering from foot injuries, likely will be on the field for the first practice.

“We feel like we’re going to be a good football team,” the coach said, adding that he’s looking forward to seeing players in pads for the first time.

“All we know right now is what we look like without pads. After a couple of days in pads, we will know an awful lot,” Smith said.

“We want a competitive camp,” added Smith, who went 81-63, won three division title and appeared in two NFC championship games and one Super Bowl in nine seasons with the Bears from 2004 to 2012. “In the end, I don’t think the decisions are really that hard, as far as who you start, who makes the ball club. It’ll be obvious to all.”

Meanwhile, the Bucs announced defensive end Ronald Talley has been placed on the active/non-football injury list. Linebacker Brandon Magee was claimed off waivers from the Cleveland Browns.

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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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