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Lynch’s absence means opportunities in Seattle

By WTOP Staff

TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The allure of Christine Michael’s potential was there the day the Seattle Seahawks surprised most by using a second-round pick on a running back when the position appeared to not be a priority.

He was fast. Blazing fast, especially in the open field, with an element of power in the way he ran at Texas A&M.

And then it never showed during the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run. Michael was rarely more than a spectator on Sundays as he struggled making the transition from the college game to the pros.

“He’s got great speed and quickness, but he’s had to learn to be patient and the discipline it takes to play in this offense and in this league. Not doing things almost right, doing things right,” Seattle running backs coach Sherman Smith said. “I think that’s the thing he’s learning now. Patience and discipline and doing stuff the right way.”

With Marshawn Lynch holding out from Seahawks training camp, the opportunity is there for Michael and third-year back Robert Turbin to prove they can be more than capable backups to one of the top runners in football.

The duo was already going to receive the bulk of the workload during the preseason, trying to keep Lynch rested and ready for the start of the regular season.

But with Lynch unhappy about his contract and absent from camp, Turbin and Michael are now taking on even more of the load.

“I think it’s a benefit for the team too to see these guys doing it and get more confidence in them knowing that if Marshawn were hurt they could go in and play,” Smith said. “I think it helps the reps and helps the team’s confidence also.”

Seattle has a pretty good idea what Turbin can provide. He’s shown to be a capable spot backup for Lynch the past two seasons when given a chance.

Turbin has size similar to Lynch, but the question would be his ability to carry the ball every down. Only once in his career has Turbin had more than 11 carries in a game.

Turbin is healthier now than at almost any other point last season. He played through a bothersome knee that required minor surgery in the offseason.

“For one, I’m healthy this year. So that’s definitely a plus. I just think understanding the game and defense and scheme and understanding what we’re trying to do as an offense and our philosophy and what we want to do,” Turbin said.

“It’s definitely helped watching other backs and watching Marshawn and studying film and how other teams run similar offense that we do and getting better from that.”

Michael is the unknown, which only percolates the interest from Seattle’s fans. Sports talk radio spent much of the offseason debating what Michael could bring to Seattle’s offense after he was active for only four games last season and got a total of 18 carries.

Since the Super Bowl, Michael has shown he’s taking the game more serious than his rookie season. Simple things such as taking proper notes and watching the right amount of film have become part of his routine.

Coach Pete Carroll has raved about Michael’s transformation since the first offseason workouts when he was getting the bulk of the reps while Lynch was absent from the voluntary sessions.

“It’s different from the collegiate level. They expect you to get it and get it right away here. They drafted you for a reason and you’ve got to come in and prove yourself,” Michael said. “What you did in college doesn’t matter when you come on this level, everybody is good. You’ve just got to get better. You have to stick out more than the next person.”

NOTES: Lynch was placed on the “reserved/did not report” list Saturday, giving Seattle an extra roster spot. The Seahawks signed LB Brandon Denmark and FS Steven Terrell and waived/injured DT Dewayne Cherrington. … WR Percy Harvin sat Saturday, part of Seattle’s plan to rest him periodically during camp. … RT Michael Bowie, competing for the starting job, also sat out Saturday after “tweaking” his shoulder on Friday.

___

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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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