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Sims, Coker lead No. 2 Alabama past FAU, 41-0

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama’s quarterbacks both got auditions for the starting job, but it’s not clear yet who will win the role.

Blake Sims had 214 passing yards and Jake Coker threw for 202 to lead the second-ranked Crimson Tide to a 41-0 win over Florida Atlantic on Saturday in a game cut short early for lightning. It’s the first time two Alabama quarterbacks had thrown for 200 yards in the same game and the second most passing yards in program history behind Scott Hunter’s 484 against Auburn in 1969.

Both quarterbacks got a chance to make a case for the Tide’s starting job in a one-sided game. The schools agreed to end the game with 7:53 left and Alabama (2-0) nearing the end zone again.

Sims’ only significant misstep was a fumble near the goal line.

“Blake played well except for the one play, and Jake got some experience,” Tide coach Nick Saban said. “I think that experience should help his confidence and his ability to play with a little bit better rhythm as he gets that confidence. He did some very good things as well.”

Saban had made it clear leading up to the game that the battle to replace AJ McCarron wasn’t over, though Coker only played briefly at the end of a victory over West Virginia. He enrolled at Alabama over the summer.

Sims passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third in his second straight start, all in the first three quarters. He was 11-of-13 passing and said the fumble resulted from “a misunderstanding.”

“Something we’ve got to get better on,” Sims said. “We did what we had to do and moved to the next play, and that’s a good thing you look out of it, look back at it (Sunday) and learn from it.”

Coker went 15-of-24 with a touchdown in his first significant action but the Florida State transfer missed some open receivers downfield.

Amari Cooker had 189 receiving yards and tied DJ Hall’s 8-year-old school record with 13 catches. It was his fourth straight 100-yard game, one shy of Hall’s school record, and his second in a row with double-digit receptions.

The Tide outgained the Owls 620-145.

Florida Atlantic had allowed 784 yards in the opening 55-7 loss to No. 19 Nebraska. The Owls got $1 million paydays for each game, though.

Florida Atlantic played without starting quarterback Jaquez Johnson, who injured his non-throwing left shoulder against Nebraska.

Greg Hankerson was 12-of-19 passing for 88 yards.

“We had several freshmen on the field playing against some of the best players in the nation,” Owls coach Charlie Partridge said.

Sims got Alabama rolling early, leading the Tide to three touchdown drives in the first quarter. He ran for a 7-yard score then launched a 52-yarder to Cooper and a 39-yarder to Kenyan Drake. Sims completed eight of his first nine passes and the incompletion was on a dropped ball.

His other incompletion came when Cooper couldn’t bring in a deflected pass in the end zone.

Coker entered the game late in the quarter after Alabama recovered a fumble across midfield. The Tide got a field goal out of it.

Coker added a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jalston Fowler, set up by his 15-yard run on the previous play.

Both quarterbacks employed a similar strategy: Get the ball to Cooper as often as possible.

Coker threw two screen passes to him on his first drive and they failed to connect in the end zone on third down.

Alabama also gained 204 yards on the ground among eight rushers. T.J. Yeldon (43 yards) and Kenyan Drake (45) both got seven carries. Jay Warren ran for 56 yards on nine carries to lead Florida Atlantic.

Saban said he and the players would rather have finished the game, but that it was a good decision to halt it. Thunder echoed through the sky, and many fans had already left. The ones that remained scurried for the exits when play was paused.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a game called off and it’s the first time I ever beat the media to the press conference,” Saban joked.

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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