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Nation’s Football Classic is more than just a game

By Noah Frank

WASHINGTON — College football is driven by its longstanding rivalries. Michigan-Ohio State, Auburn-Alabama, Army-Navy, even Harvard-Yale. The games are known by name alone: The Red River Rivalry, The Civil War, The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

But some rivalries run deeper, and go beyond just a competitive game or regional pride. One of those games is the Nation’s Football Classic, which will see Howard University and Morehouse College square off at RFK Stadium on Saturday.

Both Howard and Morehouse were founded in 1867, and the rivalry first came to life with a 10-0 Howard victory in 1923. The matchup went on hiatus from 1930 until it was revived in 1955, and again was dormant from 1971-84. Most recently, the rivalry dissolved after 1997, only to be revived once again in 2011.

Now, the game returns to D.C. for the fourth year since its resurrection. That’s music to Jay Walker’s ears.

Known at the time as “Sky Walker” for his prolific passing, the former Howard quarterback set the single-game school record for most pass completions with 38 and was All-MEAC in both 1992 and 1993. He went on to be drafted by the New England Patriots and played four years in the NFL.

“I didn’t realize the magnitude of the game until I stepped on the field for the first time and Spike Lee was there for the coin toss,” recalls Walker.

That memory quickly turned sour for Walker and the Bison, who lost a rain- soaked game in Atlanta, 7-0.

“My worst college memory was against Morehouse — I had never had played a game in the rain before, being from California,” says the Los Angeles native. “It was completely my fault.”

But Walker and the Bison found redemption the next year.

In his final season, he led Howard to an undefeated regular season mark of 11- 0, including classic wins over both Steve McNair’s Alcorn State as well as nationally-ranked Towson.

And, yes, Walker’s Bison also defeated Morehouse handily, 34-9. The difference in the talent levels between the programs at the time was one of the reasons the rivalry was discontinued. In 1996, Howard drubbed the Maroon Tigers, 49-0, then followed that up with a 52-0 blanking the next year. Those victories were led by another star Howard quarterback, Ted White.

White set the all-time school and MEAC conference career passing mark with 9,908 yards, records which still hold today, as Howard’s quarterback between 1996-98.

“Howard has cultivated something of a tradition of great quarterbacks,” says Walker. “I take pride in being part of that tradition. Part of my job was nurturing Ted White.”

Now it’s White’s turn. As offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Bison, he is in charge of the attack, and particularly, the development of the current quarterback, Greg McGhee. The senior from Pittsburgh has thrown for nearly 5,500 career yards, with more than half of those coming in a breakout junior season. He’s beaten Morehouse all three years, and is looking to complete a perfect career sweep.

“Greg McGhee is a special talent,” says Walker. He’s more athletic than Ted White or Jay Walker on any given day.”

White agrees.

“I probably couldn’t ever do what he does right now,” says the coach about his mentee. “I would be lying to you saying it hasn’t been a pleasure coaching him. Watching the maturation process, from him as a freshman to senior. He’s almost like my hero.”

Despite three straight Howard victories, the contests have been much closer than in Walker or White’s eras, the Bison’s three wins coming by just a combined 15 points. This year, the Maroon Tigers come in at 1-0 following a 31-16 victory over Edward Waters College in their opener, while Howard is 0-2 following losses against tougher competition at Akron (41-0) and at Rutgers (38-25).

That should lend some intrigue to the game on the field. But the rivalry has always stretched far outside the lines.

“It’s more than just a game,” says White. “I didn’t realize it while I was playing here. As a coach, I’m able to look at it from afar, able to see the greater significance of everything. We used to play them at Homecoming, and you’d have Bill Cosby and others on the sideline.

Walker echoes his sentiments.

“It’s a unique tradition among the HBCU landscape,” he says. “There’s more than just what happens on the field. It’s

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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