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Oklahoma’s RB trio dominates Louisiana Tech

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — In the old wishbone days at Oklahoma, Barry Switzer’s teams often would have three or more backs put up big numbers.

The fourth-ranked Sooners went old school with a twist in their 48-16 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night.

Samaje Perine, Keith Ford and Alex Ross all had big games against the Bulldogs, but coach Bob Stoops’ modern-day triple threat differs from those of yesteryear because his guys catch the ball, too. Ford caught four passes for 65 yards and ran nine times for 51 yards and two touchdowns while Ross caught two passes for 31 yards and ran 11 times for 36 yards and two scores. Perine, a 5-foot-10, 243-pound bulldozer, rumbled for 77 tough yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. That adds up to 260 yards from scrimmage.

All three had 13 touches from scrimmage on Saturday, showing that a featured back might not be necessary.

“We’ve got three running backs that can do some damage,” quarterback Trevor Knight said. “All three of those guys ended up getting in the end zone tonight. That’s just a testament to those guys working. You saw how they worked together, how Alex and Keith kind of set the tone and Samaje — it was his first college game — it showed how they’ve taken him under their wings, and they played great tonight.”

Oklahoma lost its top two rushers from last season, and highly touted freshman Joe Mixon is suspended for the season, so there were questions heading into the opener. The Sooners answered them by producing 183 yards rushing and five touchdowns on 40 carries while keeping their backs involved in the passing game.

“We all have different skill sets,” Ross said. “When we got our chance, we optimized the opportunities that we had every time we touched it.”

The one thing they have in common is power.

“We feed off each other,” Perine said. “We do stuff in the weight room that other people just can’t do. As a running back group, I think we are one of the strongest — if not the strongest — running back groups that’s ever come through Oklahoma.”

Ford made perhaps the play of the game early in the third quarter. He caught a pass on a deep seam route and took a major shot from safety Kentrell Brice before holding on for a 28-yard gain.

“I honestly did not know he was right there,” Ford said of Brice. “I was kind of surprised I held onto the ball. I was just grateful that I made a play. We worked on that all week and Coach (Cale) Gundy was stressing to watch out for the safety. I guess it showed why he said that.”

Perine, a true freshman, plays behind Ross and Ford. He was emotional after playing so well in his college debut.

“He teared up,” Ross said. “I had to hug him. I was like, ‘You good, brother. I’m proud of you.’ And he just laid his head on my shoulder and it was tears, had to wipe the tears. But he’s good.”

Perine knew he’d get a chance to run with the ball, but he wasn’t sure how often. He entered the game confident that he could produce as a college player.

“I think during the couple of scrimmages that we had, I was running pretty well, and if you run well against our defense, you can pretty much run well against anybody,” he said. “I just had that mentality going into this game and this season, and I think it’s going to carry over well.”

___

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP .

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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