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Raiders brimming with optimism at start of camp

By WTOP Staff

NAPA, Calif. (AP) — The start of training camp is a time for optimism all around the NFL — even for a team that has gone 11 straight seasons without a winning season.

That was no different for the Oakland Raiders, who held their first training camp practice on Friday with the goal of ending the longest run of futility in franchise history.

To change that recent past that includes back-to-back four-win seasons under general manager Reggie McKenzie and coach Dennis Allen, the Raiders spent much of their offseason adding veteran players with a winning pedigree.

While adding players in their 30s is not the usual path for a rebuilding team, the Raiders believe it can be a winning formula in Oakland where teaching players how to win was almost as needed as adding talent.

“We’ve got a lot of talent on this team,” defensive end Justin Tuck said. “We’ve got to put it together, obviously, and we’ve got to exorcise some demons that have been here, some thought processes of some guys that are used to having 4-12 seasons. The mindset has to change. We hear it. I hear all the things that people say and I’m in the business of proving people wrong.”

Tuck was one of the several newcomers who arrive with Super Bowl experience, joining defensive linemen LaMarr Woodley and Antonio Smith, cornerbacks Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown and receiver James Jones.

Along with adding Donald Penn, Austin Howard and Kevin Boothe to the offensive line and running back Maurice Jones-Drew to the backfield, the Raiders have more talent than they have had in the first two years of this regime.

“I feel as good as I’ve felt coming into a season,” Allen said. “I think we’ve got more depth on our football team than we’ve had at any point up to this point.”

But perhaps the most crucial newcomer will be quarterback Matt Schaub, who is getting a fresh start in Oakland after losing his job during a rough 2013 in Houston.

Schaub set an NFL record by having an interception returned for a touchdown in four straight games, lost the starting job to Case Keenum and was harassed by frustrated fans who went as far as burning his jersey.

“I think he’s very hungry,” Allen said. “I think he’s excited about the new opportunity. I think anytime you go into something new there’s a little bit of, maybe it’s an increased focus, an increased intensity level, because it is new. You kind of force yourself out of your comfort zone a little bit. I think he’s done that.

Schaub was anointed the starter when Oakland acquired him in a trade from Houston in March. Oakland then drafted Derek Carr in the second round but still plan to have Schaub as starter.

He welcomes the chance at a fresh start after seven seasons with the Texans and likes the upgrades the Raiders have made this offseason.

“It’s exciting to be a part of that,” he said. “It’s definitely an exciting time as a veteran to make this transition over here to this team to help get back to that Raider way. It’s exciting to see what they’ve done.”

NOTES: WR Greg Little made a few highlight-reel catches along the sideline but also dropped one easy ball as he tries to shake the inconsistency label that dogged him during his time in Cleveland. … All 82 players on the active roster were able to practice. Oakland has five players on the PUP list, two on the non-football injury list and one open roster spot.

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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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