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Browns’ Manziel says NCAA should change rules

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Johnny Manziel built his brand and bolstered Texas A&M’s by producing magical moments on the field and winning.

He made the school money and feels college athletes should be getting paid.

On Friday, the Browns rookie quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner said the NCAA should change its rules and allow college athletes to capitalize on their likeness.

Addressing the situation involving Georgia running back Todd Gurley, who was suspended indefinitely on Thursday as the school investigates an alleged violation of NCAA rules, Manziel said he can relate to Gurley’s predicament and believes college players should be compensated.

“I obviously know what Todd’s going through and I feel for him,” Manziel said. “Obviously I don’t know every single (detail) of the situation that he’s in, but at the same time I think he’s done a great job and worked extremely hard to make a name for himself on the football field. He has an image and he has a likeness and he has obviously a want and a need for his autograph — and I feel that if he wants he should be able to have a system that allows him to go out and capitalize from that.”

Georgia officials have not revealed the nature of their investigation. But SI.com, citing anonymous sources, reported Gurley received money for signing memorabilia.

Manziel, who won the Heisman as a freshman with the Aggies, was investigated before the 2013 season when reports surfaced that he received money for signing autographs. The NCAA agreed with Texas A&M to sit Manziel for the first half of the season opener against Rice, with no finding he did anything wrong.

SI.com reported that Gurley is accused of receiving $400 to sign 80 pieces of memorabilia on campus earlier this year.

Manziel said he believes it’s time for the NCAA to take closer look at how the money in big-time college football is distributed.

“I think it’s at a big crossroads right now with how much money college football in particular is bringing in for universities, for networks, for the SEC for everything of that nature and then guys are walking out with an $800 scholarship check a month,” he said. “It’s an ongoing thing and we don’t know every bit and piece, but he (Gurley) has built an image for himself. I don’t think that’s going to change any time soon, but at the same time I think it is an ongoing problem in college athletics.”

Moments after speaking with reporters, Manziel offered his support to Gurley by tweeting: “#FreeGurley.”

Manziel knows what it’s like to be tempted by memorabilia collectors willing to pay for a signature. He said it’s difficult to separate the casual fan from someone looking to cash in.

“People walk around on game days in brand new jerseys with tags on them,” he said. “You see it here in the NFL. Any sporting event, signatures and autographs are something that every fan usually wants, and it’s really hard to decide when somebody comes up to you and asks you to sign if they genuinely want your autograph, are a die-hard fan, or if they’re going to take this back and sell it and try to make it for their own profit.”

In addition to getting a stipend of some kind, Manziel would also like to see college athletes receive some financial training. He says there are too many cases of athletes spending their scholarship money too quickly, and by the end of the month not having food in their refrigerator or enough to pay the electric bill.

“I definitely feel there is some type of way to get these players more money, more resources, something to help them out because they are doing so much and creating so much money,” he said. “And I get that’s not the case at every single school around the country. But the majority of big schools are very profitable.”

The scrutiny has followed Manziel from campus to the NFL sideline.

In last week’s game at Tennessee, TV cameras captured Manziel laughing as the Browns fell behind 28-3. Manziel was standing with practice squad QB Connor Shaw when he was shown smiling and joking around.

“It was just me and Connor kind of just talking,” Manziel explained. “The camera kind of just caught me at a time that was a little bit after a play. At that point in the game, it was almost like everything was going so wrong for us that all you can kind of do is sit back and just kind of chuckle. But at the same time, me and Connor have a really fun relationship during games. And as serious and in tune to the game as we are, it’s not like that every play.”

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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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