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Caldwell has a chance to win right away with Lions

By WTOP Staff

NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — The Detroit Lions are beginning training camp under another new coach — but for once, there’s no long rebuilding project ahead.

“If I felt that we didn’t have the talent here, I’d tell you,” said Jim Caldwell, who was hired in January to replace Jim Schwartz. “We have a talented group. It’s our job to get those guys in position to win and win consistently.”

Caldwell spoke to reporters Sunday, which was reporting day at training camp for Detroit’s veterans. The team will practice Monday. The Lions haven’t won their division since 1993 and have only one playoff victory since winning the 1957 NFL title — but with a core of players that includes Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh, there will be plenty of urgency for this team in Caldwell’s first season as Lions coach.

Detroit squandered a great chance to make the playoffs last year, losing six of their last seven and finishing 7-9. That collapse cost Schwartz his job, and Caldwell took over.

“This is the best chance for any of the head coaches that have come in in their first year,” said center Dominic Raiola, who is entering his 14th season with the team. “This is the best chance to win right now.”

Linebacker Stephen Tulloch expanded on that sentiment a bit.

“This is probably the most talented team on the Detroit Lions in a long time,” he said.

The Lions had 10 straight losing seasons from 2001-10, with coaches Marty Mornhinweg, Steve Mariucci, Rod Marinelli and Schwartz unable to turn them into consistent winners. Detroit was coming off a winless season when Schwartz took over in 2009. They reached the playoffs under him in 2011, but went 11-21 over the last two seasons.

Stafford has thrown for plenty of yards, but his mistakes have held the team back at times. Johnson remains one of the game’s most dynamic players, but although he’s still in his prime, the star receiver dealt with nagging injuries last year.

Suh is entering the final season of his contract, so it’s not clear if he’ll be with the Lions beyond 2014.

Caldwell will have a chance to contend right away with his new team, but with those expectations comes pressure.

“It’s not fair to talk about when Schwartz came in because he inherited an 0-16 team,” Raiola said. “It was a complete overhaul, and we’ve been a part of a couple of those. But this is not a complete overhaul.”

Although the Lions have an impressive nucleus of big names, there are some trouble spots that need to be addressed. Safety Louis Delmas and cornerback Chris Houston are gone, and the team will have to replace those two veterans.

Detroit signed safety James Ihedigbo, but there will be pressure on some of the team’s younger cornerbacks, such as Bill Bentley and Darius Slay. The Lions also drafted cornerback Nevin Lawson in the fourth round this year.

“We’re young, but we also have some guys that have talent,” Caldwell said. “We’re pleased where we are right now. This is the real test. This is where we’re going to really find out what we have.”

The defensive line, meanwhile, remains anchored by Suh, but defensive end Ziggy Ansah dealt with a shoulder injury last season, and his health remains an issue heading into camp. Ansah had eight sacks last season as a rookie.

“One of the things I learned early on in coaching is I coach who shows up, and instruct our staff to do the exact same thing,” Caldwell said. “I cannot worry about how quickly the Lord allows someone to heal. I have to do our business. When he gets healthy and ready to go, he will be ready.”

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

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Follow Noah Trister on Twitter: http://twitter.com/noahtrister

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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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