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Stanford begins camp ready to reload, not rebuild

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) — Stanford coach David Shaw walked over to reporters following Monday’s first training camp practice for what has practically become an annual tradition: fielding questions about several key contributors to replace.

Shaw’s team has provided emphatic answers in each of his first three seasons. He expects the same this fall.

“I think our guys take a lot of pride in that,” Shaw said.

Finding a way to reload — and not just replace — team leaders each year has helped carry the Cardinal to consecutive Pac-12 championships and Rose Bowl berths.

Toby Gerhart, Jim Harbaugh and Andrew Luck are just a few of the notable names Stanford has seen move on to successful NFL careers in recent years. Running back Tyler Gaffney, linebackers Trent Murphy and Shayne Skov and four starters on the offensive line were among this summer’s biggest departures.

Losing such talent can take some programs a year or more to recover. At Stanford, the “next man up” mentality so many teams tout has been done enough now that players are confident the transition will again go smoothly.

“Something we’ve always talked about, but something we’ve been preaching a lot this year: It’s not so much who we are, it’s what we are,” said senior wide receiver and All-America kick returner Ty Montgomery, who participated in the unpadded practice but will be held out of non-contact drills for now as he comes back from offseason surgery on his right shoulder.

“We’re a product of the ones before us, each other and the ones that follow,” Montgomery said. “No matter who goes out there, no matter who puts on a Stanford uniform, we’re a product of the program. And every guy is going to be a Stanford football player. And that’s pretty much it.”

Even with a tough schedule that includes road games at Oregon, UCLA, Arizona State and Notre Dame, Shaw is optimistic about his team’s chances.

Quarterback Kevin Hogan is back for his redshirt junior season and Montgomery and Devon Cajuste anchor a deep and talented receivers group. The tight ends, led by redshirt freshman Austin Hooper, are expected to re-emerge as a part of the offense. And the one returning starter on the line, junior left tackle Andrus Peat, is already being mentioned as a top NFL draft pick next year.

While four of Peat’s fellow offensive line starters are gone, their replacements have played significant time in the Cardinal’s power package. Coaches believe the unit could even be among the best Stanford has had during its recent run of excellence, which includes four straight seasons with at least 11 wins.

“It’s like my children. I look at them, and I can’t believe they’re three years older,” said offensive coordinator Mike Bloomgren, who also coaches the offensive line. “They’ve been around for three years, now they’re the old guys and they’re teaching the freshmen and putting their arm around these freshmen. I feel like I’m in a time warp a little bit.”

Some of the most important spots to fill will be on defense, where Stanford lost all-conference players in Skov, Murphy, defensive end Ben Gardner and free safety Ed Reynolds. They also were the loudest and most respected voices in the locker room.

Strong safety Jordan Richards and inside linebacker A.J. Tarpley will anchor the defense this season. And just like their predecessors, they will be expected to bring along the underclassmen and continue the unit’s winning ways.

“When guys don’t get the attention that some people say they don’t deserve or do deserve, all it does for these guys on this team is bring everybody closer,” Tarpley said. “And you want to work as hard as ever to kind of quiet everybody down.”

___

Antonio Gonzalez can be reached at: www.twitter.com/agonzalezAP

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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