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Graham, Williams feel at home with Bills

By WTOP Staff

MARK LUDWICZAK
Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — When he was 5 years old, Corey Graham dreamed of playing at Ralph Wilson Stadium with the Buffalo Bills.

He’ll get his chance on Sunday when the cornerback takes to the home field for the first time as a member of his hometown team.

“It’s been there since I was a kid,” Graham said. “I always had the dream of playing in the NFL. When I was 5, I was already a Bills fan because of my uncles, they were Bills fans and I was coming to the games. So to have that opportunity to put on that jersey and come out in that stadium and play, it’s going to be a special day.”

Graham is one of two local players, along with wide receiver Mike Williams, preparing for his first home opener with the Bills.

Following a Week 1 win over the Bears on the road, the duo can’t wait to suit up in a regular-season game at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“Playing my first regular-season game in a Bills uniform is like a dream really coming true,” Williams said. “So for me, I’m very excited. I can’t wait.”

Graham grew up in Buffalo and starred as a youngster at Turner Carroll High School. After successful stints with the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens, the 29-year-old cornerback returned home when he signed with the Bills as a free agent in the offseason.

He won’t have to look far to find familiar faces in the stands on Sunday.

“Everybody wants to come to the game,” Graham said. “My immediate family’s going to be there, my aunt’s going to be there, my brothers, my mom, my wife, my kids and my cousins, my coaches … a lot of people are going to be there. Everybody’s going to want to come out and support and be there for that special day.”

Williams is a product of Riverside, a section of northwestern Buffalo. Williams was a multisport star in high school at the Riverside Institute of Technology and starred across the state in college at Syracuse.

Following an abrupt split with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason — one year after he signed a six-year, $40 million deal — Williams is looking to rejuvenate his career with his hometown team. He was traded to Buffalo in April for a sixth-round pick.

“I always dreamed of playing for the Buffalo Bills, even when I was with Tampa, it was like, ‘I wonder how it would feel playing for the Bills,’ my hometown team,” Williams said. “Now that I’m doing it, I can’t wait to go out there Sunday and finally be out there in a home game.”

Williams estimates that he has bought around 180 tickets for friends and family for Sunday’s game against Miami.

“I told my mom it’s my whole check, so it’s kind of their fault,” Williams said with a laugh. “But I can’t wait to play. It’s going to be surreal for me, and I can’t wait to go out there and do it.”

Both players got off to strong starts in Buffalo’s 23-20 overtime win over Chicago.

Graham had two pass breakups on consecutive plays late in the fourth quarter to keep Chicago to a game-tying field goal.

Williams made one of the biggest plays in overtime, a leaping 20-yard reception, to set up Dan Carpenter’s winning field goal.

They’re hoping to keep Buffalo’s momentum moving forward after a particularly eventful week.

Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly announced he was cancer free on Sept. 4, the Bills upset the Bears on Sunday, and on Tuesday the team’s future in Buffalo was secured after the Bills agreed to sell the team to prospective owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

“I’m pretty sure that the stadium’s going to be unreal,” Graham said. “The fans are going to be going crazy, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a little louder than normal. So we’re looking forward to that. It’s an important day for the Buffalo Bills.”

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

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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