Skip to main content

Alabama holds another nonconference QB audition

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Once again, Alabama has a game seemingly tailor-made for the quarterback contenders to go head to head.

Barring a major surprise, Blake Sims-Jake Coker II is the most intriguing part of the third-ranked Crimson Tide’s game Saturday against Southern Mississippi.

The ideal scenario for the Tide (2-0) would be to have the starting quarterback matter settled before opening Southeastern Conference play against Florida in a week. Alabama coach Nick Saban makes it clear the winner will be whoever supplies the best chance of beating the Gators.

“We’re not really ready to make any kind of prediction on what we should do in the Florida game when we’re playing Southern Miss this week,” Saban said.

The reality is that Southern Miss (1-1) is a 48-point underdog that held off Championship Subdivision team Alcorn State just 26-20 last Saturday for its second victory in the last 26 games.

The Tide dispatched Florida Atlantic 41-0 in a weather-shortened game that afforded both quarterbacks plenty of chances to make their case. Oregon still vaulted Alabama in the Associated Press Top 25.

Sims has started each of the first two games, while the lopsided outing against FAU marked Coker’s first significant action for the Tide.

“They have two quarterbacks and they have done a great job with both of them,” Southern Miss coach Todd Monken said. “They are both good players. A lot of times you see a program and they can’t decide on the quarterback and that says that they don’t have a guy who is talented enough. That is not true.

“Both of these guys are talented enough and warrant being the starter. Either one of them could start and lead them to victory. It is a good problem for them to have and they have done a good job with it.”

___

Here are some other things to know about this game:

COOPER’S CATCHES: Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper has a whopping 25 catches for 319 yards through two games, leading the nation in both categories.

PROGRAM GAUGE: In his second season, Monken is embracing the challenge against the Tide. “They are the model of consistency,” he said. “You want to go and play someone who is at the top of what you do in Division I football and that is Alabama. They are well-coached. They don’t give you much. They run the football. They can throw it. It is going to be a real challenge for our team, but we are excited. “That is why you get in this profession to see where you are at. We are going to take our team over there Saturday and fight like heck and see what happens.”

RUNNING BACKS: Southern Miss freshman Ito Smith ran 32 times for 118 yards against Alcorn State. By contrast, none of the Tide’s running backs had more than seven carries versus FAU. Even with the quarterbacks under the spotlight, Alabama should salivate over this number: The Golden Eagles have allowed 496 rushing yards in two games.

RENEWAL: These teams once met regularly, every season from 1992-2005 in fact. The Golden Eagles’ only on-field win in 21 trips to Tuscaloosa (Alabama forfeited another victory) was in Bear Bryant’s final game at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Nov. 13, 1982.

FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS: Saban makes his expectations clear even going into presumed mismatches. “He kind of preaches to us that champions don’t really focus on their opponent,” Tide receiver Chris Black said. “That’s what he’s been preaching since last week. We’ve got to play to our standard.”

___

Follow John Zenor on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jzenor

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote