Skip to main content

Philbin seems to be enjoying these Dolphins more

By WTOP Staff

TIM REYNOLDS
AP Sports Writer

DAVIE, Fla. (AP) — Make no mistake, Joe Philbin is not always happy. When the Miami Dolphins had to repeat the same play four times in practice Tuesday and still failed to get it right, their head coach was steaming.

Those moments have seemed rare so far this preseason.

Whether he’s cracking the occasional one-liner with reporters, showing a happily animated side in practice or even pulling off a few comical dance steps at the team’s annual season-kickoff luncheon, the Dolphins’ third-year coach looks to be enjoying himself much more than he was at previous points in his tenure — especially last year, when a player-hazing scandal overshadowed the franchise.

“It’s a privilege to work here,” Philbin said. “It’s a wonderful organization. I get to work with a lot great people every single day, not just the players and the coaches, but a lot of the support staff here that make tremendous sacrifices on a daily basis to be a part of this organization. That part is enjoyable. When you do something you love to do and you’re doing it with people that you like to be around, that’s hard to beat.”

His public persona remains largely unchanged. Philbin is somewhat guarded with his answers at times, which is hardly unusual for a football coach. He tends to be on the quieter side, not a yeller and screamer like some in his position.

Behind closed doors, though, players are seeing changes. And they seem to like them.

“For a lot of people, it’s tough to kind of come in from a different angle. He’s been able to do that,” defensive lineman Jared Odrick said. “He’s been doing it well. He’s been hearing a lot of us out and it’s been great. He’s doing exactly what a head coach should be doing.”

Philbin has faced tons of attention in his first two seasons with the Dolphins, none of it probably being what he wanted. Miami was the subject of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” in his first season, the cameras catching every move the team made, including the meeting where he cut Chad Johnson. Then came the storm of hazing accusations that swirled around offensive linemen Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin last season, which took an obvious toll on Philbin.

This summer, it’s just been football.

And in a year where change was needed, the change of attitude is welcomed as well.

“I think we all realized that, not just the organization, but as a whole players realized that,” Odrick said. “I think that’s why we were so welcoming to some of the offseason programs and some of the culture shifts that came about this offseason.”

It’s not like Philbin is taking his job less seriously. That absolutely isn’t the case. It’s just that he’s either having more fun now, or willing to let people see him having more fun, or both.

Case in point: The team’s luncheon last week, a jacket-and-tie event inside a downtown Miami hotel. Philbin, seated a few rows from the stage, got called out to dance. He stood up, broad smile across his face, threw his arms over his head four times while shuffling his feet, then sat back down as people around him laughed in delight.

“I had to be a good sport,” Philbin said. “I got called out in the middle of the luncheon. Again, I had to be a good sport and show those famous, I guess they’re becoming famous, moves now.”

With that, he laughed a bit.

That wasn’t happening last year. But now, the Dolphins seem more like his sort of club.

“I think it’s evolving,” Philbin said, “but I think this year has been the best that we’ve had.”

NOTES: RB Knowshon Moreno spent time off to the side in practice Tuesday, but Philbin said he wasn’t aware of any setbacks. Moreno had knee surgery earlier this year and has not played in either of Miami’s first two preseason games and his status for Saturday against Dallas is unknown. … Philbin, laying out in simple terms what it will take for Brady Quinn to edge Matt Moore for the backup quarterback job: “Be the second best quarterback on our roster.”

___

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

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
Read Next Story

Related Stories

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote