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49ers look for win against Bears in Levi’s opener

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — If somewhat unknown before as a backup, Colin Kaepernick’s breakout performance against the Chicago Bears two years ago helped make him a star.

The San Francisco 49ers turned what had been hyped as an NFC showdown into a rout on the primetime stage at Candlestick Park, and Kaepernick played a huge role.

He can only hope to be as dominant again while facing Chicago in his Levi’s Stadium debut on Sunday, under the lights once more.

Not that Kaepernick is reflecting when asked about his first start.

“2-0 benchmark is what we’re looking for,” he said.

Thrust into action after then-starter Alex Smith nursed a concussion, Kaepernick threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns as the Niners pounded the Bears 32-7.

Just like his quarterback, coach Jim Harbaugh would rather focus on Kaepernick’s latest performance: 16 of 23 for 201 yards without an interception in a Week 1 win at Dallas.

“Good memories of that,” the coach said of the 2012 game. “And even better memories of the way he played (Sunday).”

Harbaugh described how Kaepernick “wrist-throws a BB to Vernon Davis in the end zone for a touchdown. I mean, in my estimation there’s only two people that could make those two plays, one is Colin Kaepernick and the other has an ‘S’ on his chest.”

Chicago (0-1) looks to bounce back in a hurry from being stunned by the Bills 23-20 in overtime at home. The Bears allowed 17 straight points, and now begin a daunting stretch with six of eight games on the road.

“It’s hard to win on the road in this league, so you want to start off the season with a win at home,” running back Matt Forte said. “It’s just as simple as taking care of the ball a little better, and in the red zone scoring more points when we get down there.”

Here are some things to know about the Bears’ visit to the Bay Area:

THE GRASS FACTOR: This time, the grass should stick. Team officials are counting on it after the initial field had to be re-sodded not once but twice after the original grass failed to root.

“I’ve heard its surface is very good,” Harbaugh said.

The 49ers (1-0) lost their preseason opener at new $1.2 billion Levi’s Stadium 34-0 to Denver on Aug. 17 and will try to make a far better impression on the home fans this time. Thousands of supporters made their way to the exits early in the second half.

“It will certainly be exciting to be there, be a part of the event,” said Bears coach Marc Trestman, a former 49ers offensive coordinator.

BANGED-UP BEARS: Chicago must make adjustments on offense given its injuries to Pro Bowl wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, center Roberto Garza and left guard Matt Slauson.

Garza and Slauson have ankle injuries and their status was uncertain, meaning a unit that was together all of last season could see two backups forced into action.

SAN FRANCISCO SECONDARY: The 49ers lost cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Tramaine Brock to injuries Week 1, so the 49ers again might be mixing and matching in their secondary. Perrish Cox came in and made his first interception in four years against the Cowboys.

PROTECTING THE BALL: Jay Cutler need only watch tape of Tony Romo’s forgettable day last Sunday to know that the smothering 49ers defense will come at him at every chance this weekend, no matter the personnel.

Aldon Smith, who had 5½ sacks against the Bears in that November 2012 meeting, is serving a nine-game suspension.

Jason Campbell started in Cutler’s place that last time against the 49ers while Cutler sat out with a concussion.

Now, Cutler must be more careful. Mistakes won’t cut it against an opportunistic defense. He threw a pair of interceptions last week, but finished with 349 yards passing and two touchdowns.

BEARS DEFENSE: Chicago revamped its defense in the offseason and still struggled to stop the run in the season opener. So, slowing down Frank Gore and rookie Carlos Hyde could prove quite a challenge.

The Bears know it doesn’t get any easier in a schedule featuring six road games among the first nine.

“You know San Fran is going to come out and run some of that zone-read,” defensive end Willie Young said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we get that for the rest of the year. That’s not just singling us out. It’s across the league. Everybody’s buying stock in that particular play so we’re just going to have to be sound for stopping that zone read.”

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AP Sports Writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.

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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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