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49ers open with 1st visit to Cowboys’ showplace

By WTOP Staff

SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — After weeks of talk about players who won’t be on the field for San Francisco’s first regular-season visit to the $1.2 billion home of the Dallas Cowboys, the time has come to focus on those who will.

There’s Tony Romo taking his first meaningful snap since throwing a touchdown pass with a herniated disk to set up a winner-take-all finale that he had to miss because of back surgery.

And the Dallas quarterback will oppose Colin Kaepernick, who was an unknown rookie on the sideline three years ago when Romo beat the 49ers while playing with a punctured lung.

Or how about the San Francisco quartet of linebackers Dan Skuta, Michael Wilhoite, Corey Lemonier and rookie Chris Borland being among those filling in Sunday for the suspended Aldon Smith and the injured NaVorro Bowman.

Dallas also has many questions on defense, but one of the answers won’t be Michael Sam.

The league’s first openly gay player made news again this week by signing with the Cowboys’ practice squad after his release in St. Louis — still a step shy of appearing in a regular-season game.

“There are certainly some things you feel good about going into the opener,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said. “There are some other things there are some questions about as we go forward. That’s the exciting part about Week 1.”

Even without Smith, Bowman and possibly defensive tackle Ray McDonald after his arrest in a domestic violence case, the 49ers have the proof of three straight trips to the NFC championship game behind one of the league’s best defenses.

The Cowboys had the NFL’s worst a year ago, and have been scrambling all offseason to settle on a front seven. It certainly doesn’t help that cornerback Orlando Scandrick will miss the first four games on a drug suspension.

Dallas will use a rotation on the defensive line, hoping free agent pickup Henry Melton will be a key even though he missed all the preseason games with a groin injury.

End George Selvie, grabbed off the scrap heap at training camp last year, is the only Dallas lineman who had more than two sacks a year ago. And his status is in doubt because of a shoulder injury.

“They’re a fast team,” 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “I’m sure they’ll have things for us in the first game that you don’t expect, that they’ve been preparing for.”

Here are some things to watch in a game that will break a 16-16-1 tie in a series that includes six NFC championship games:

ROMO’S ROLLOUT

Romo took it easy in the offseason and got frequent days off during training camp following December surgery. He had already injured his back when he led a drive to beat Washington, only to watch from his house when a third straight season ended with a loss to an NFC East rival that left the Cowboys at 8-8 and out of the postseason. “I feel very comfortable going into the season and I feel as well as I could possibly hope for at this point,” Romo said.

SAN FRAN’S FRONT

The 49ers’ offensive line had problems protecting Kaepernick during the preseason, though the tight-knit unit has hardly had any continuity so far. Right guard Alex Boone ended his holdout just in time for Week 1, though it was unclear whether he or right tackle Anthony Davis — dealing with a minor hamstring injury — would start and play. Jonathan Martin, who got a fresh start under Harbaugh, his coach at Stanford, after a bullying scandal in Miami, could be called upon.

McCLAIN BACK ON FIELD

Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain will play his first game since 2012, the last of his three seasons with Oakland after the Raiders picked him eighth overall in 2010. He walked away from the game twice with Baltimore after the Ravens acquired his rights. The Cowboys got him in a trade before training camp after a season-ending knee injury to Sean Lee, and now it looks as if McClain will start at Lee’s spot in the middle.

CRABTREE HOMECOMING

San Francisco receiver Michael Crabtree, who played for a Dallas high school and Texas Tech, worked concessions at old Texas Stadium with his youth football teammates. He walked to his locker in a Texas Tech T-shirt on Thursday before pulling on a 49ers hoodie. Now, he has purchased 70 tickets for family members to attend Sunday’s game. “It’s going to be fun, and it’s going to be challenging going back home seeing my family,” he said.

IN THIS CORNER

Scandrick’s absence gives former top 10 pick Morris Claiborne a chance to prove his worth as a starting cornerback after an injury-filled 2013. Claiborne is battling a shoulder sprain this time, but should play. Tramaine Brock is back after leading the 49ers with five interceptions last season.

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Online:

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

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Follow Schuyler Dixon on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apschuyler

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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