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Sooners ready to move past Sugar Bowl win

By WTOP Staff

The Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma got a lot of attention with its upset victory over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

As good as it was for the program, the Sooners are looking forward. The Big 12 favorites begin practice Aug. 5 in preparation for the Aug. 30 opener against Louisiana Tech.

“They’ve been getting stroked for a long time about Alabama,” co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said Thursday. “That’s ancient history as far as the football world is concerned. It’s time to turn the page and move on and see what this 2014 team can do.”

The challenge for Oklahoma will be keeping a team that has been praised all offseason hungry.

“I told my guys what we did last year is last year,” defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery said. “We haven’t done anything this year. We still have to prove ourselves. We’re going to have guys that didn’t play much last year that are going to play. We’ve got guys that played a bunch of ball last year. We’ve still got to go out and play the man in front of us. We’ve got to work well as a team. I don’t believe in the hype. It’s not where you start, it’s where you finish.”

This team appears to be in position to contend for a national title, with significant experience returning and a strong freshman class. The Sooners should be especially strong on defense, where 11 players with at least five career starts return from a unit that led the Big 12 in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in scoring defense and rushing defense.

Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops says the unit can be even better this year. Last year, the Sooners switched from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and adjusted on the fly. This year, there is a greater sense of comfort for coaches and players that should allow the team’s improved athletic ability to shine.

“I think we’re a bigger, longer, faster football team than we were at any time last year,” Stoops said. “Our size and our strength has grown.”

Second-team All-Big 12 defensive end Charles Tapper is back. He was second on the team in tackles for loss (9) and sacks (5 1/2) last season.

Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips is back after missing nine games last season with a back injury. Stoops said the 6-foot-6, 341-pounder is a difference maker.

“We just want Jordan to play where he was a year ago, and hopefully, he’ll make a huge difference in our defense if we can keep him on the field and keep him healthy,” Stoops said. “He feels great, so that’s a good sign. We instantly get better with him on the field.”

Linebackers Frank Shannon, Dominique Alexander and Eric Striker combined for 222 tackles last year. Jordan Evans, who missed five games last season with an ankle injury, is back. Geneo Grissom, who will move from defensive end to outside linebacker, had two sacks, two fumble recoveries and a touchdown in the Sugar Bowl.

Zack Sanchez earned numerous honors as a freshman cornerback last season. Senior Julian Wilson, the team’s starting nickel back last year, also will be considered at cornerback.

Stoops said the Sooners are two-deep across the board.

“Players get complacent and content when they’re not pushed,” he said. “So we’ve got a bunch of guys pushing for playing time, and to me, that’s the best thing we have going for us right now.”

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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