Skip to main content

Titans start camp with new coach, goal to win now

By WTOP Staff

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Coach Ken Whisenhunt sees no need for patience with the Titans.

This is a franchise that last played in the postseason in 2008 with its last playoff win in January 2004. The Titans reported Friday for training camp with their new coach, and Whisenhunt says he knows fans want to win now.

So do the Titans.

“This is not about rebuilding a team or being patient,” Whisenhunt said. “This is about winning. Our goal is to get a home playoff game because that’s an important piece of it for our fans. So I hope they understand the process of this, but by no means do we feel like it’s a process where we’re asking for patience.”

Whisenhunt cautioned that he has yet to see the Titans in pads yet and every team has high expectations at this time of year. He coached against the Titans in September last season as offensive coordinator with San Diego in a visit to Tennessee, and he said he thought they were a good team then. That impression has not changed.

“The way our players worked in the offseason I think it gives them confidence that we have a chance, especially because … we were close in so many games last year,” Whisenhunt said. “So I really believe that our players feel that way, and that’s an important piece of it.”

The Titans went 7-9 last season losing three games by a field goal or less before coach Mike Munchak was fired.

Six losses came by nine points or fewer. Quarterback Jake Locker said the Titans are close, noting two of the tightest losses were to AFC South champ Indianapolis. The Titans lost at home 30-27 to the Colts and 22-14 at Indianapolis — both without Locker who missed the final seven games with a Lisfranc injury in his right foot.

“That’s how close this league is,” Locker said. “We need to find a way to finish those games, and games we let get away from us find a way to stay in it.”

Locker staying healthy the entire season will be a key to how well the Titans fare in Whisenhunt’s debut season. The quarterback took part in all the team’s on-field sessions this offseason, and he said he ran with no issues during the conditioning test Friday morning.

His contract is good only through this season. Locker said he has no worries because he and his wife had taken good care of the money he has received so far. His only motivation now isn’t landing his next contract.

“I care about winning football games and doing it with a good group of guys I’ve gotten to know really well,” Locker said.

Whisenhunt said every player taking the conditioning test passed with the exception being right guard Andy Levitre who had an appendectomy Thursday. The Titans put him on the non-football injury list with defensive end Marcus Dixon on the physically unable to perform list with a calf injury.

The Titans, whose first practice is Saturday morning, have only 43 days before the season opener Sept. 7 at Kansas City with the preseason opener Aug. 9 hosting Green Bay.

Linebacker Wesley Woodyard is one of seven veterans brought in, and he said it’s hard helping a team turn into a winner. But he played the Titans last December while still in Denver where coaches talked about the Titans being a couple games from making the playoffs.

“We just got to continue to take that next step and I’m excited to be a part of that,” Woodyard said.

Notes: Whisenhunt said rookie Taylor Lewan and veteran Chris Spencer likely will help replace Levitre while the right guard is out.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote