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Dallas at Tennessee trying to avoid 0-2 start

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — It’s only Week 2, and the Dallas Cowboys already face a crucial road trip to Tennessee.

The Cowboys are coming off a 28-17 opening loss to San Francisco at home in which they turned over the ball four times in the first half, with Tony Romo intercepted three times. Now Dallas is trying to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2010. That season the Cowboys started 1-7, and Jason Garrett was promoted to head coach for the second half of the schedule.

“It’s going to be difficult, but we’ve got to go in there and do what we need to do and try to figure out a way to get a win,” Romo said.

Garrett said they have a lot of respect for Tennessee after the Titans won 26-10 in Kansas City.

“Our focus is on ourselves …,” Garrett said.

The Titans (1-0) know there will be plenty of Cowboys’ fans in the stands at LP Field on Sunday, and they are on a mission under first-year coach Ken Whisenhunt to earn back their own fans. Titans left tackle Michael Roos remembers folks filling every seat, cheering so loudly the noise was deafening as the Titans stacked up win after win on their home turf.

“Hopefully fans can see this is a different kind of team,” Roos said. “We’ve been working hard, and we need all the fans in the seats we can get. It’s always been sold out, but it hasn’t always been full. The Cowboys will have their fans just like they always do in any stadium in the NFL. … I think the more fans we can get in there the better, and get back that home-field advantage we used to have.”

The Titans haven’t worn more than five home games in a season since 2008 when they went 13-3 — their last playoff appearance. Now Whisenhunt, their third coach since then, wants to build off that opening win and make LP Field a special place to be.

“We have to establish a bond with our fans,” Whisenhunt said. “We haven’t done that yet. This team hasn’t done it. That’s important for us to come out there and do that. The only way you can do that is playing a game and getting a win, because that creates a special bond.”

Here are a few items to watch Sunday:

ROMO’S RECOVERY: Romo said he was fine physically in his first real game since back surgery last December. But he said the mental side of the game might have suffered through lighter work in the offseason and preseason. “What can happen is you lose certain subtle things that need to continually be there beforehand,” Romo said. “I think that comes with playing. I’m disappointed it obviously took a game to get to that point, but it’ll be different going forward.”

LOCKER TIME: Titans quarterback Jake Locker is off to a strong start in a contract year. The Titans didn’t pick up his 2015 option, so the eighth pick overall in 2011 has to prove he’s worthy of a new deal. Locker threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City, giving him a 111.4 passer rating. That was the third highest in his 19 career starts and was fifth best among NFL quarterbacks in the opening week — second in the AFC to only Peyton Manning.

MCCLAIN BACK IN SEC COUNTRY: Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain, who tied for the team lead in tackles in his first game since 2012, comes back to SEC country. The former Alabama star will make his second start for the Cowboys less than two months after getting sentenced to 18 days in jail on charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct in his hometown of Decatur, Alabama.

DEFENSIVE ISSUE: The Cowboys, who gave up 127 yards rushing, will be tested with linebacker Justin Durant possibly out with an injured groin. The Titans ran for 162 yards in Kansas City, and their defense played even better, coming up with four sacks and three turnovers.

SERIES: This will be only the 13th meeting between these teams, and Dallas has won two of the last three. This will the Cowboys’ first trip to Tennessee since Oct. 1, 2006, another Dallas win better known for Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth stepping on center Andre Gurode’s face. That earned him a five-game suspension.

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AP Sports Writer Schuyler Dixon contributed to this report.

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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Follow Teresa M. Walker on Twitter: http://twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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