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Missouri back in Show-Me mode again

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Just like last season, Missouri begins fall workouts way under the radar.

The Tigers are coming off a 12-win season and SEC Eastern division title, but must replace numerous key players including NFL draft picks Kony Ealy, Justin Britt, E.J. Gaines and Michael Sam. James Franklin, a three-year starter at quarterback, and running back Henry Josey are among nine players in all at NFL training camps.

Missouri was picked fourth in the Eastern Division, which will serve as motivation for the returning players who moved up the depth chart.

“Last year we were an incredibly hungry team, we came off a losing record, and I think we’re just as hungry this year,” offensive lineman Mitch Morse said. “A different motivation intrinsically, but we’re guys trying to prove myself.

“We get no respect and that’s all right, I personally like coming from behind.”

Coach Gary Pinkel set the school career record for victories last season and entering his 14th season believes there’s plenty of depth. There are 11 returning starters counting both specialists, five on defense.

“It’s still about coming out and playing your best, bringing your best,” Pinkel said. “I know it sounds so redundant and boring, but the teams that do that get better.”

The team practiced at Faurot Field with temperatures hovering around 90 degrees.

Before media was escorted off the field just shy of the halfway mark, coaches could be heard barking over occasional buzzing from construction crews working on a new upper deck added when the school joined the SEC.

Missouri (12-2) opens Aug. 30 against South Dakota State, the first of seven home games. The conference opener is Sept. 27 at South Carolina.

“I’m the type of guy, I don’t worry about what people think, I don’t worry about respect,” defensive end Markus Golden said after the opening workout Monday. “I know you’ve got to put on the pads and play.

“The game, that’s where you get your respect.”

Wide receiver is perhaps the most untested position with the three top producers from last season gone after Dorial Green-Beckham was kicked off the team in April. Levi Copelin, a sophomore who had the potential to start, was suspended for the season by the NCAA for using a banned supplement.

Pinkel said Copelin bought the supplement at the mall, believing teammates had used it.

“Anybody can buy it, there’s nothing illegal about it except playing college football,” Pinkel said. “It was poor judgment on his part and that hurts our team.”

Running back Marcus Murphy could fill part of the void, getting work at wide receiver early in camp. Murphy played wide receiver in high school.

“It is going to be a little adjustment lining up at the slot, but I’ve got the guys to help me,” Murphy said. “Hopefully, it’ll turn out well.”

Bud Sasser had 26 catches last season, most among the players returning.

Redshirt sophomore Maty Mauk was 3-1 in the SEC as the starter last season when Franklin was out with an injury.

Josey had 1,166 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Russell Hansbrough and Murphy combined for 1,286 yards and 13 touchdowns

The defense must replace Sam, the SEC co-defensive player of the year, and linebacker Andrew Wilson, who led the team in tackles the last three seasons.

Golden and Shane Ray are expected to step up at the ends. Golden, a senior, led defensive linemen in tackles and had 6 1-2 sacks, and Ray, a junior, had 4 1-2 sacks.

“Shane is a beast, he’s got a lot of speed coming off the edge, and I’m a beast on the other side,” Golden said.

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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