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Old-school Tide shows glimpse of no-huddle offense

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Looking for a way to calm a jittery first-time starting quarterback, No. 2 Alabama broke out the no-huddle offense for a while against West Virginia.

The move helped recalibrate Blake Sims, and the Tide went on to roll to victory.

Up-tempo Alabama? And with the shifty Sims, guiding the offense could the zone-read and spread be next?

Not happening.

Nick Saban is fine with the Tide’s old-school ways. In fact, being the “dinosaur” in this age of high-tech offenses is now to Alabama’s advantage, Saban said after a 33-23 victory against West Virginia.

The Tide’s no-huddle tweak against the Mountaineers came in the second quarter, a suggestion Saban made to new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, who is calling plays from the sideline instead of from the coach’s box above the field as so many coordinators do.

Going no-huddle helped simplify things for a few moments for Sims, but it’s not as if Alabama was suddenly playing at a pace befitting Oregon or Auburn.

The Tide went back to the huddle for most of the game and held the ball for more than 37 minutes. And while Sims’ mobility is a new weapon for Saban’s offense after years of Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron tucked contentedly in the pocket, don’t expect the Tide to stray too far from its traditional sets.

“We’re one of the few teams in the world that still play regular people,” said Saban, referring to a tight end, two backs and two wide outs. “That’s like when I played, that was like getting an empty (backfield). And now we’re like the dinosaur age when it comes to that. We also play two tight ends and two wide outs and one back.

“But one thing that I found out about all that is because everybody else is spread and no-huddle, people really have a tough time defending what we do because nobody does it. And it allows us to be more physical and it does allow us to play more players.”

It certainly worked fine at the Georgia Dome.

Alabama gained 538 yards and at a very solid clip of 6.6 per play. Last season, Alabama averaged 7.15 per play, tied for fifth in the nation with Ohio State, a spread team, and just a bit behind hurry-up, no-huddle juggernauts Oregon, Baylor and Texas A&M.

No. 1 in the country was Florida State at 7.67 per play — another team that plays dinosaur football, and further proof that it’s more about the players you line up than how you line them up.

Kiffin was brought in to replace Doug Nussmeier after last season because he is a believer in a more traditional approach to offense, too.

Saban said having Kiffin on the sideline helped Sims.

“That’s why we put him there because that’s what we thought he could do to affect the game. Told (Sims) a lot about what we were going to do next so he could anticipate what he had to do,” Saban said. “I thought (Kiffin) did a fantastic job.”

Kiffin, the former Southern California coach who was fired five games into last season, doesn’t have to deal with the media anymore — Saban’s assistants are off limits.

Answering questions from reporters was an assignment that often didn’t show Kiffin’s best side whether it was at USC, Tennessee or as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

As Alabama’s players and coaches cleared out of the Georgia Dome, Kiffin leisurely made his way toward the exit and past dozens of reporters who were finishing up interviews with players outside the Tide locker room.

He stepped to the side for moment to fiddle with his phone and headphones. The only question he had to field was from someone who asked him how he was settling into Tuscaloosa and then wished him luck.

“We’re 1-0,” he said and smiled.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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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