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Rams running back Zac Stacy back at full speed

By WTOP Staff

JOE HARRIS
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS (AP) — St. Louis running back Zac Stacy should be as busy as usual Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers.

Stacy’s status was in question after the second-year player left the Rams’ game last week at Philadelphia because of a calf strain. After missing practice early in the week, he was back in full swing Friday and Saturday.

“I had a good week of prep this week, got back running around earlier this week,” Stacy said. “It feels good, ready to go.”

Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Stacy responded well as a full participant in practices Friday and Saturday.

“Usually, if there’s any doubt in our minds, we’ll list him as limited and questionable, but he will be listed as full practice, probable,” Fisher said.

After running for 973 yards last season, Stacy has struggled to gain traction through the first four games. Stacy has rushed for 223 yards on 53 carries and has scored only one touchdown.

The Rams are 19th in rushing — and it won’t get any easier against a San Francisco defense ranked fifth against the run.

“Just watching them on film they run to the ball pretty good,” Stacy said. “It’s just one of those games you’ll get two yards here, you may lose a couple here and then you might pop one for 10. It’s all about a grind, keeping the running game moving. It comes down to execution.”

Benny Cunningham provided a spark to the St. Louis running game after taking over for Stacy against the Eagles. Cunningham rushed for 47 yards, averaging 6.2 yards a carry, and scored a touchdown in the Ram’s 34-28 loss.

Even with Stacy healthy, Cunningham should still see some touches against the 49ers. He hopes they can build off the momentum at the end of the Philadelphia game.

“Austin Davis had an excellent game, the offensive line started to open it up in the end,” Cunningham said. “If they come out and play the way they did, there’s no doubt that we’ll have success in the backfield.”

A strong running game could be essential to take the heat off of Davis, who will be making his second start since being officially named the starting quarterback over Shaun Hill.

Rams offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said San Francisco presents a challenge.

“We’re going to have to focus on making sure we’re efficient in our schemes and making sure we’re going to right guys,” Saffold said. “After that, we’re going to have to make sure on our one-on-ones that we set firm and don’t give up a lot of penetration so (Davis) can see where to throw the ball.

“As far as the running game goes, basically it just means being efficient, having a good balance between rushing attempts and completions with our wide receivers. If we have a good balanced game, I think we can put ourselves in a good position to win.”

NOTES: Stacy (calf) was a full participant and is probable, as was Eugene Sims (groin) and Kenny Britt (knee). Barrett Jones (back) and Jo-Lonn Dunbar (groin) were limited and are questionable. Alex Carrington (knee) and Chase Reynolds (hip) did not practice and are questionable. Trumaine Johnson (knee) and Brandon McGee (foot) did not practice and are out.

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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