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Arkansas looks to finally put end to losing streak

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Brandon Allen hasn’t shied away from talking openly about the mounting frustration as Arkansas’ losing streak — the longest in school history — has grown.

The Razorbacks and their quarterback hope to end their frustrations once and for all Saturday when they host Football Championship Subdivision opponent Nicholls State — itself a loser of seven straight games.

For nearly a year, Allen and his teammates have worked through the growing pains of the start of the Bret Bielema era without the satisfaction of a win. Last week’s 45-21 loss at No. 5 Auburn was Arkansas’ 10th straight. The Razorbacks haven’t seen a string of losses like this since a seven-game skid in 1990.

Despite the losses, Bielema has remained steadfast in his belief that the talent level and overall performance have improved in his second season as coach since leaving Wisconsin.

Now his players are ready to show just how far they’ve come against the Colonels, as well as start to move forward from the burdensome losing streak that’s hovered over the program since it began with a loss at Rutgers on Sept. 14 of last year.

“This weekend, I think we’re really needing a win,” Allen said. “And not just a win, but a win in a big way … kind of a statement win, really just showing what we’re all about.”

Led by an emerging offensive line, as well as the established running back trio of Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams and Korliss Marshall, the Razorbacks stayed with the defending Southeastern Conference champion Tigers for a half last week.

The two teams were tied 21-21 at halftime, but Arkansas wore down in the second as their SEC losing streak extended to 13 games. The Razorbacks, who were 21-5 from 2010-11, are now 7-18 in their last 25 games — leading to plenty of motivation for a win Saturday.

“It sure would be nice to walk in there and see some smiling faces instead of not seeing them,” Arkansas offensive line coach Sam Pittman said. “Because these kids have earned it, and they deserve it. They really do.”

Other points to watch as Arkansas tries to snap the longest losing streak in school history:

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Bielema said this week he wanted more of the Razorbacks younger players to see action in the loss to Auburn, though 12 freshmen did play the first week. Those underclassmen will have their chance Saturday, with cornerback Henre’ Toliver, linebacker Josh Williams and safety Josh Liddell among the freshmen Bielema plans to play extended snaps.

SEC READY: Saturday will mark the first time in school history that Nicholls State has faced an SEC opponent, though coach Charlie Stubbs is a former Alabama assistant and knows the league well. The Colonels lost 44-16 at Air Force last week, but Stubbs knows the competition level will increase this week. “It’s a major challenge. I can kind of prepare them, but none of them have had this experience.”

DROPPED CHANCES: The Razorbacks were last in the SEC in passing last season, averaging a paltry 148.5 yards per game through the air. The team’s wide receivers didn’t help Allen last week with five dropped passes, including one by junior Keon Hatcher on a perfectly thrown deep pass in the first half. Bielema, though, insisted he’s not worried about their overall confidence level. “I am not worried about them,” he said. “I’m more worried about their overall response.”

DELAYED DEBUT: Arkansas’ Jojo Robinson showed more quickness than many of the team’s wide receivers during the preseason, and Bielema had hoped to play the freshman this week. However, Bielema said Thursday the 6-foot, 185-pound Robinson was “stepped on” during a practice this week and will miss Saturday’s game.

DERBY’S EMERGENCE: Senior AJ Derby was the Razorbacks backup quarterback last season, but he showed why Bielema wanted him to move to tight end in the opening game against the Tigers. The former Iowa transfer had four catches for 40 yards in his first game at the position, including a 17-yard touchdown catch. Arkansas already has an All-SEC tight end in sophomore Hunter Henry, but Derby’s emergence could be critical for a team in desperate need of offensive threats.

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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