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Giants offensive coordinator on spot for opener

By WTOP Staff

TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo is heading into the regular season under the microscope.

The 37-year-old former Green Bay Packers assistant was hired to fix the offense and the preseason only raised concerns despite the team’s 5-0 record.

Under a new West Coast offense, Eli Manning and the first-team scored three touchdowns in 19 series, and one was on a 73-yard run by halfback Rashad Jennings.

It certainly wasn’t the instant gratification Giants’ fans were expecting from someone who had worked with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers’ potent offense.

“Preseason is more about evaluation,” McAdoo said Friday, just three days before the season opener against the Lions in Detroit. “I’m sure you would like to go out and be more productive. I realize we weren’t as productive as we wanted to be, not with our first group. We are not looking in our rear-view mirror. We’re looking forward; taking care of today and preparing for tomorrow.”

McAdoo feels the team has made progress since training camp opened seven weeks ago. He feels things have clicked in practice and there is a chemistry developing.

One also senses that McAdoo knows his unit is the focus heading into the season. While he professes not to mind that, it is an added burden for a coach who will be calling plays for the first time in his career.

“It’s a team game, but I knew what I signed up for when I signed the contract,” McAdoo said. “I’ll never back down from that. I am excited and look forward to it, confident and confident in the players in the locker room and the coaches upstairs. I’m excited.”

Giants players are also excited, knowing that for the first time they will be getting a full game plan. Much of what they have run in the preseason has been very bland.

“I am excited to go out there and put our offense to the test, and put ourselves in third-down situations where we have to convert, and challenge ourselves a little bit and see ourselves come through,” receiver Victor Cruz said. “I am excited for our offense to see what we are capable of doing.”

Jennings, who was signed as a free agent in the offseason, said installing an offense is a process.

“Just like anything else in the world we want immediate gratification for our work,” he said. “We know it’s a never-ending process and we are growing every single day. There is no doubt about that. It’s a long season.”

If there was a positive in the preseason it was the running game performed well and turnovers were down a season after Manning threw a career-high 27 interceptions. None of the Giants quarterbacks threw an interception in the preseason, and there were only five turnovers, three by the offense.

Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is confident McAdoo is ready to run an offense. He said it sometimes takes a little time for a new coordinator and his players to get on the same page but everyone in the organization is willing to be patient.

“He is in New York and there are a lot of expectations,” Fewell said. “He expects a lot of himself. The cream will rise to the top, and he’ll rise to the top and get it done. He knows exactly what to do.”

And right now, McAdoo is just working.

“(You’re) never finished with game plan, the hay is never in the barn,” McAdoo said. “We always have work to do.”

NOTES: Manning, Cruz, S Antrel Rolle, LB Jon Beaon and LS Zak DeOssie were elected captains by their teammates. …The Giants announced the launch of the team’s official female fan club, the New York Giants Women’s Club. Members will have the opportunity to attend events, receive deals and discounts and enter contests for prizes. The Giants are not the first NFL team to have a women’s fan club. …WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), DT Markus Kuhn (ankle) and OT James Brewer (back) did not practice for the second straight day. …Special teams coorindator Tom Quinn said receiver Preston Parker will handle punt returns.

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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