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No. 6 Texas A&M takes on SMU without June Jones

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Coach Kevin Sumlin likes the timing for sixth-ranked Texas A&M’s consecutive games in the Dallas area.

The Aggies (3-0) start their North Texas stretch Saturday at former Southwest Conference rival SMU (0-2), whose home opener is its first game since coach June Jones’ unexpected resignation. Texas A&M then has a neutral-site SEC game in the NFL stadium where every college team would like to be in January. Both games have the same mid-afternoon kickoff time, despite being on different national TV networks.

“We talked about the preparation this week should duplicate next week,” Sumlin said. “What we’re looking for is the same type of preparation, approach Monday through Saturday, and the same type of performance and effort these next two weeks. Because very rarely in college football, if you’re winning, do you get to duplicate the same situation from a travel and game-time standpoint. So I think we caught a break there.”

Texas A&M, going for its first 4-0 start since 2006, is a nearly five-touchdown favorite against the Mustangs. SMU was outscored 88-6 its first two games before Jones left, with the only touchdown a 33-yard pass on the final play at North Texas in their last game.

“I don’t know if we’re good enough for them to come in here and us to beat them,” said SMU interim coach Tom Mason, also the defensive coordinator. “We can’t get any lower than we were out of that North Texas game. Let’s just get better, and I want to see us improve. I want to see us compete, I want to see the football team that I think we can become start to emerge.”

SMU had an open date and made plenty of changes since its last game, from the coach to a new starting quarterback, but Sumlin said his team can’t be distracted by all that.

“There’s a lot of things happening there. … We worry about us,” Sumlin said. “If you truly look within and try to fix the problems you had a week ago and the things that are going on right now, focus on the things you have to do every week to be successful regardless of opponent, then you have a chance to win. Our guys, over the course of time, understand that.”

Here are few things to know when Texas A&M plays at SMU, before taking on Arkansas the following week in the Dallas Cowboys’ home stadium where the national championship game will be played.

THRILLING START: Kenny Hill, the son of a former major league pitcher, is the first Texas A&M quarterback to throw for 1,000 yards in the first three games of a season, and the sophomore has thrown 139 career passes (117 this year) without an interception. The Aggies are only 37 points shy of 200 by the fourth game of the season for the first time since 1917.

CASSEL’S CHANCE: Redshirt freshman Kolney Cassel takes over as SMU’s starting quarterback after Neal Burcham’s season-ending right elbow injury. Cassel completed 14 of 29 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions while playing in both games so far.

BEEN SUCH A LONG TIME: SMU hasn’t won in the series against Texas A&M since 1984. The Aggies are 12-0-1 since then, including four games that Texas A&M has won by an average margin of 41 points since the SWC disbanded and they were no longer conference rivals.

MYLES BEYOND HIS AGE: True freshman defensive end Myles Garrett has played only three games for the Aggies, and already matched the freshman season sacks record with 5 1/2. “If you weren’t at practice, you’d probably be surprised. If you watched him practice, we’ve got two pretty good tackles … Our line is pretty good,” Sumlin said. “He’s had his moments with every guy on that offensive line. That’s when you start getting respect from your teammates and people start whispering.”

SPEED BUMP: Texas A&M freshman receiver Speedy Noil, who has 12 catches for 197 yards already and is their top punt returner, is not expected to play Saturday. He had his first career touchdown catch early last week’s win over Rice before limping off the field in the third quarter.

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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