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Panthers’ Rivera expects Williams, Tolbert to play

By WTOP Staff

STEVE REED
AP Sports Writer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Coach Ron Rivera expects to have his starting backfield ready to play Sunday night when the Panthers host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Running back DeAngelo Williams and Pro Bowl fullback Mike Tolbert practiced full on Friday and are expected to start. Williams is listed as questionable on the injury report; Tolbert is probable.

Quarterback Cam Newton has been battling rib and ankle injuries but isn’t listed on the team’s injury report.

That’s good news for unbeaten Carolina considering the Steelers (1-1) rank 29th in the league against the run after two games and allowed 157 yards rushing in a 26-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week.

“The formula that we talked is being able to control the ball, control the clock and take the pressure off our quarterback,” Rivera said. “That’s what we’re hoping for. It’s great to have Jonathan Stewart back and Tolbert rolling and DeAngelo hopefully back out there.”

Third-string running back Fozzy Whittaker is doubtful with a quadriceps injury.

While the running backs are getting healthy, Carolina’s wide receiver position is a little more unsettled heading into Sunday.

Rivera said there is some concern over starting wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery’s status. Cotchery, who caught 10 TD passes last season for the Steelers, didn’t practice Friday and is listed as questionable along with backup wide receiver Jason Avant.

Both are struggling with hamstring injuries.

Cotchery said Friday he ran in the pool instead going outside to practice and will be cautious with the injury, even though he desperately wants to play against his former team.

“I’m preparing for a long year,” Cotchery said. “I came here to play to play ball in January and February. If I feel good on Sunday then I will go. But if not I’m just looking forward to the long season.”

Rivera is anxious to get Williams back on the field.

The 31-year-old running back sat out last week’s game against Detroit with a hamstring injury and the Panthers struggled moving the ball on the ground.

Williams had a strong debut in the season opener, rushing for 72 yards on 14 carries against Tampa Bay. Stewart started in place of Williams last Sunday and ran for 37 yards and a touchdown against a Lions defense that repeatedly put eight and nine men in the box, forcing Newton to beat them with his arm.

Tolbert missed practice earlier in the week with a bruised sternum after taking what he called the hardest hit of his NFL career last Sunday from Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley. Fairley came through Carolina’s offensive line unblocked on a goal line play and leveled Tolbert, who was left gasping for air.

The Panthers are looking for their first 3-0 start since 2003, the year they went to the Super Bowl.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://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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