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Blog: Redskins unveil throwback uniforms for 80th anniversary

By WTOP Staff

WASHINGTON – The Redskins kicked off their 80th anniversary season at the Redskins Park new indoor practice facility on Thursday evening.

The team unveiled an alternate uniform, designed by Nike, that will be worn at two home games this season. There’s no word yet on which two.

This was the first event held at the new facility, to which Dan Snyder joked, “We’re naming it the Joe Gibbs bubble, in honor of Joe.”

That got a laugh from the crowd, because we all know that the former coach never wanted an indoor facility. I know, Dan is a funny guy isn’t he?

Mike Shanahan also took to the podium and declared, “I’ve never been more excited for a season to get started.”

He’s definitely a different person these days, more relaxed. I guess I would too if I realized that I have a new franchise quarterback, to which Shanahan said, “He’s going to do things you’ve never seen quarterbacks do.” Shanahan is referring to Robert Griffin III of course.

“He’s going to be here for the next decade or so,” coach added. I’m sure Redskins fans like to hear that.

The team also announced that in honor of the 80th anniversary that it will add ten more players to the list of the 70 Greatest Redskins. The list was put together ten years ago to create the 80 Greatest Redskins of All Time. Voting begins at midnight for what the team is calling, “10 For 80.”

It was then time for the unveiling of the uniform. Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan modeled the uniforms for us.

“Great look, great feel, they’re going to look good out there with all 53 men wearing them and representing,” Orakpo said.

I like the throwbacks, I think they did a good job with these because we all have seen some of them around the league and can’t believe that teams would let players out in public in them.These are very basic, almost looking like the ones the team wore in 1994 as a throwback. They definitely honored the tradition with the colors and when you see pictures of Sammy Baugh, you will see these uniforms.

“The Redskins are an amazing organization focused on team, unity and tradition. This new alternate uniform design for the Redskins is a very special one that truly speaks to the team’s long rich history,” said Nike Football Creative Director Todd Van Horne.

The excitement is there, now we just need some football on the field and we will be ready to go.

Follow George and WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

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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