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Arkansas believes passing game ready and able

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema wasted little time in attempting to quell any concerns about Arkansas’ passing game when he met wide receiver Keon Hatcher’s father for the first time.

The Razorbacks’ coach, ever wary of being “mislabeled” as a run-only coach rather than the balanced approach and identity he so craves, had a message for the dad of his junior wide receiver.

“We can throw it,” Bielema promised.

Arkansas (2-1) has had little cause to throw the ball so far this season, particularly during a dominating two-game winning streak that’s seen it outscore its opponents 122-35.

The Razorbacks have attempted only 17 passes over the last two games, including 12 in a 49-28 win over Texas Tech last week. And while the 68 rushing attempts in the win against the Red Raiders might cause some to question the effectiveness of Arkansas’ passing game, Bielema insists he has full confidence in the air attack and quarterback Brandon Allen.

“I’ve been referring to it as the best-kept secret in Fayetteville,” Bielema said.

The passing game doesn’t figure to be a secret for long, especially as the Razorbacks enter the most difficult portion of their schedule — beginning with a visit from Northern Illinois on Saturday before a three-game stretch that features No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 2 Alabama and No. 13 Georgia.

The Huskies (3-0), the two-time defending champions of the Mid-American Conference, have won 17 straight road games and are expected to provide a great deal more resistance defensively than an overwhelmed Texas Tech did. They won 48-34 at UNLV last week and 23-15 at Northwestern, and aren’t about to shy away from facing a team from the Southeastern Conference.

Allen, for one, doesn’t expect a repeat of last week when Arkansas rushed for 438 yards against the Red Raiders. The Razorbacks ran the ball 40 times in the second half while pulling away, compared to only two pass attempts for Allen — who finished 6 of 12 passing for 61 yards.

“We’re still confident,” Allen said. “We’ve done it all in practice, we know we can go out and perform our passing game. We just really didn’t need to (last) weekend, so credit the offensive line, the running backs for the jobs they did to just basically move the ball at will.”

Allen’s 109 passing efficiency rating last season was last among SEC starting quarterbacks, though it’s worth noting he played for much of the season with a shoulder injury.

This season, despite his lack of attempts, the junior is seventh in the SEC with an efficiency rating of 157.2. He’s completed 28 of 48 passes (58.3 percent) for six touchdowns and one interception, aided by a 4-of-5 passing performance in a 73-7 win over Nicholls State — a game in which all four of his completed passes went for touchdowns.

Allen showed a willingness to run the ball without concern for his shoulder against Texas Tech, rushing for a key first down and a touchdown while finishing with 27 yards on three carries.

He also converted a pair of long third downs with clutch passes during a second-quarter scoring drive against the Red Raiders, showing the ability — if not frequency — is there when Arkansas needs it to balance out its dominant running back duo of Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams.

“I mean, if they can stop the run we’re going to air it out,” Hatcher said. “But if they can’t stop it, why throw it you know? Continue to hand the ball off to them and let them go make plays.”

While the Razorbacks are averaging only 142 yards passing per game so far this season, Bielema’s eventual goal is to feature an offense that averages more than 215 yards rushing and passing. He also believes that’s a reality that will happen sooner rather than later.

“That day is coming, I really think,” Bielema said. “I am very, very excited to see where it comes out when it does.”

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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