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Patterson’s plan: Turn around TCU with tweaks

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Gary Patterson leans forward in his chair, then back. He shuffles papers. Picks up a file folder, taps it on the desk. Puts it down. Leans forward, then back. Then way forward, his head only a few inches off the desk.

If the worst season in Patterson’s 14-year tenure as TCU’s coach had him seeking therapy, well, good luck getting him to lie on a couch.

As it turns out, the fidgety 54-year-old wasn’t looking to deconstruct his psyche or his program after going 4-8 in 2013.

“We didn’t need a wholesale change,” Patterson said. “TCU is not in that position.”

The Horned Frogs are most definitely in unfamiliar territory, though, entering Year 3 as a member of the Big 12. In the four seasons before moving from the Mountain West Conference, TCU went 47-5 and won the Rose Bowl in 2011.

Since the move, the Frogs are 11-14, 6-12 in conference, and it’s been one thing after another for Patterson. A stream of injuries, suspensions and off-field issues stretched thin a roster that was not quite Big 12-ready. And the Frogs often simply couldn’t catch a break. Four of last year’s losses were by three points or less.

So what’s the winningest coach in the history of TCU to do?

Nothing rash, but a music lover such as Patterson knows to stay relevant for the long haul, like Bruce Springsteen or U2, you have to be open to change.

“I think we’re all searching for that all the time,” Patterson said in a recent interview. “You steal and you conform it to what you do. How do you re-invent so that you can still keep all the (good) things in place, but you give them a better outlook of what tomorrow’s going to be like.”

What Patterson stole — so to speak — was a version of the spread offense that started with Mike Leach at Texas Tech and has been handed down and modified by programs such as Houston and Oklahoma State.

Doug Meacham was hired away from Houston, where he was offensive coordinator last year after a long stint as an assistant at Oklahoma State, to run the TCU’s offense. Sonnie Cumbie, the former Texas Tech quarterback, came over from the Red Raiders to be co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

In their first two seasons in the Big 12, TCU has ranked eighth (2012) and ninth (2013) in total offense in the conference.

Patterson, a former defensive coordinator, insists the switch was not simply a reaction to recent woes.

“This wasn’t one of those, ‘Well, we had a 4-8 season. We’ve got to make a change on offense,'” he said. “It was something I’d been thinking about for two years.”

Whether TCU has the personnel to get the most out of the new offense this season remains to be seen.

An uncertain situation at quarterback could get smoothed out when former Texas A&M quarterback Matt Joeckel transfers in. He should be eligible to play immediately. That could move last year’s starter, Trevone Boykin, to wide receiver, another position that needs a boost.

The defense should be feisty as ever with eight starters back, including star pass rusher Devonte Fields, who was suspended for the first two games of last season and then missed a bunch more because of injuries.

Patterson knew it would take time to build Big 12-quality depth. He’s also been dealing with a spate of player suspensions, departures and run-ins with the law the past two seasons.

Former TCU quarterback Casey Pachall, in an interview with the Star-Telegram in Dallas, said the Frogs have had “zero leadership” among the players.

“Nobody wants to step up and take charge of anything,” he told the newspaper in February.

Patterson said his 2010 and ’11 teams — with quarterback Andy Dalton and linebacker Tank Carder– had such a solid core of upperclassmen to set the tone that younger players could stay in the background.

“Sometimes, kids get invisible,” Patterson said. “You don’t necessarily not have great leadership. You just don’t have a whole bunch of guys left on your team that have been there before.”

A two-year hiccup hasn’t shaken athletic director Chris Del Conte’s faith in Patterson.

“I have full confidence in everything that Gary’s done,” Del Conte said.

As for Patterson, he’s not searching for himself — just a few more points.

“You’ve got to have an open mind (about) how you do things or it passes you up,” he said, “but you don’t want to get away from you as a person.”

___

Follow AP College Football Writer Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

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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