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Bills coach Marrone impatient after preseason loss

By WTOP Staff

JOHN WAWROW
AP Sports Writer

PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) — Eager to get out to practice, Bills coach Doug Marrone was in no mood for questions on Tuesday.

Marrone provided mostly blunt one-word or one-sentence answers in addressing reporters after his team returned to training camp following a preseason-opening loss.

“We played again and we lost,” he said, when asked what he saw reviewing film of the Bills’ 17-13 loss to the New York Giants in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio, on Sunday.

As for what message he issued his players, Marrone said: “We’re practicing tonight and trying to get better.”

If that’s the case, then the Bills have plenty of work ahead, and little time to get it done during a short turnaround between games.

Buffalo will practice only twice this week before traveling to play the Carolina Panthers on Friday.

On the bright side, the Bills had several injured players set to return to practice. They included tight ends Scott Chandler (groin) and Tony Moeaki (hamstring), who were both hurt during the first two days of camp.

Marrone said he was encouraged by the performance of his starting defense against the Giants. In two series, the Bills starters held New York to minus-2 yards rushing and also forced a lost fumble by quarterback Eli Manning.

And yet, Marrone was unhappy that his starting offense was unable to capitalize on the turnover, which the Bills recovered at the Giants 22. The Bills settled for a field goal after the drive stalled at the 12, and after quarterback EJ Manuel nearly had a pass intercepted on third down.

“I think you’re always disappointed,” Marrone said, referring to the squandered opportunity.

Manuel also had two of his seven passes batted down at the line of scrimmage, which Marrone blamed on the offensive line.

Manuel had an inconsistent debut. The second-year quarterback completed two passes for 19 yards in two series. And he missed on three attempts directed toward rookie first-round pick Sammy Watkins.

Backup Jeff Tuel produced the only touchdown drive by hitting Robert Woods for a 2-yard pass on fourth down. Tuel also threw an interception on a pass that went off receiver T.J. Graham’s hands at the goal line.

“There’s always stuff we can improve on,” running back Fred Jackson said. “We looked at some of the good things that we did, but we have to focus more on the things that we didn’t do well. And there was a lot of stuff we have to get better at.”

Safety Aaron Williams was encouraged by how the starting defense played in making its debut under new coordinator Jim Schwartz. The former Lions coach replaced Mike Pettine, who was hired to take over as the Cleveland Browns coach in January.

“I feel like we came out strong and set the tempo for the whole team,” Williams said. “We’ve just got to keep that up.”

The Giants scored both touchdowns against the Bills backups on defense.

NOTES: OL Doug Legursky (back) and DB Derek Brim (hip) did not practice. … Marrone said Woods played into the third quarter on Sunday because the Bills wanted to give him a chance to work in the slot.

___

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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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