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Walsh, Locke ready for outdoor Vikings home games

By WTOP Staff

DAVE CAMPBELL
AP Pro Football Writer

MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — The kicker and the punter on any team had better get along, with all the time the specialists spend together and apart from the rest of the players.

Blair Walsh and Jeff Locke started their friendship well in advance, as high school prospects some six years before they ever knew they’d become NFL teammates with the Minnesota Vikings. Their chemistry began at a Los Angeles-based kicking camp run by former UCLA star Chris Sailer.

“I’ve seen those pictures back in the day that will kind of make all you guys laugh. I had a bowl cut. He had blowout haircut. That was a lot of fun back then,” Locke said, laughing. “It was good knowing someone coming in and somebody I had kicked with before.”

Through Sailer’s program, which helped Locke land a scholarship at UCLA and Walsh the same with Georgia, the duo got connected with tutor Ignacio Brache, who kicked at California while Sailer was at UCLA in the late 1990s. Walsh and Locke spent more than a month in the Los Angeles area training with Brache this summer, trying to improve their strength, endurance and technique.

Equally important since last season ended have been the trips to TCF Bank Stadium, where the Vikings will play outdoors at the University of Minnesota while their new home is being built to replace the Metrodome. The controlled climate there helped Walsh set an NFL record with 10 field goals of 50-plus yards as a rookie in 2012 and establish a franchise record with 53 touchbacks on kickoffs. His 141 points were the second-most in Vikings history, and he was an All-Pro and Pro Bowl pick.

Last year, he slipped a bit, particularly from long range. After going 10 for 10 as a rookie, Walsh was 2 for 5 from 50 yards or longer. A nagging injury to his left (non-kicking) hamstring did not help.

“I never really got into a rhythm in that range. This year I’m practicing more and more of it,” Walsh said, adding: “I put a premium on them, and I know outside we’re going to have some deeper opportunities. You’re not inside where there’s no wind and no elements. So I’m focused and I’m more prepared than I’ve ever been.”

Maintaining that trust in his ability is the important part.

“You’ve got to go out there and be smooth from 50-plus. I think that’s the difference between guys who make them and miss them,” Walsh said. “The guys who miss them are the guys who try too hard to make them.”

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer and long snapper Cullen Loeffler accompanied Locke and Walsh to the stadium a handful of times during offseason workouts. More visits are planned prior to the home opener on Sept. 14, but Locke and Walsh have already begun scientifically analyzing the potential influence of the wind patterns on their kicks there.

“It’s never going to be easy, especially late in the year when it’s really windy,” Priefer said last month during minicamp. “If you know where the winds are going and you have your sightlines, we’re going to use that as a home-field advantage.”

Locke’s rookie season in 2013 was so-so, ranking 23rd in the NFL in gross average (44.2 yards per punt) and 18th in net average (39.2 yards per punt), so there’s plenty of room for improvement. As a pair of guys around the same age who were drafted to replace established veterans, kicker Ryan Longwell in 2012 and punter Chris Kluwe in 2013, Walsh and Locke have a built-in bond even without their past.

In a dome or in the snow, they’re bound to be kicking for the Vikings for years to come.

“We get to feed off each other, and we’re always constantly pushing each other, whether it’s in the weight room or the film room. I know it’s crazy: film room for kickers,” Walsh said. “But we’re always trying to become the best, and I think having somebody here that wants to do that is awesome.”

___

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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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