Skip to main content

Howard to call Premier League games during season

By WTOP Staff

RACHEL COHEN
AP Sports Writer

Tim Howard’s next super-human feat: doubling as an English Premier League goalkeeper and TV announcer.

The U.S. star will work up to 10 games for NBC Sports Group during the upcoming season on days his club, Everton, isn’t playing. Howard did seven matches for NBCSN last season, and the network announced Tuesday that it had formalized the relationship by signing him to a multiyear deal.

At age 35, Howard is still one of the top goalies in the Premier League, and he showed why at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil. His 16 saves in the Americans’ 2-1 loss in extra time to Belgium in the second round made him a social media sensation back home.

Howard figures broadcasting could be a big part of his post-playing future — though he’s still not sure exactly when that will start. He’s signed with Everton through 2018, but has yet to decide whether to stick with the national team through the next World Cup four years from now.

“I still have to have some long, hard conversations with a few different people that I have not quite had yet,” Howard said on a conference call Tuesday.

In the more immediate future, he will either serve as a game commentator in the booth or as an on-site studio analyst for high-profile matches on NBC networks. Howard said he found last season that fitting his broadcasting preparations into his training schedule worked smoothly.

If, say, Everton is playing on a Saturday and he’s calling a game the following Monday, Howard will do most of his research early in the week, since Everton doesn’t really start strategizing about its opponent until closer to game day.

“I spend a lot of time in my home in Manchester, feet up on the couch or in bed, just resting because that’s my job,” he said. “So, it was actually welcomed, all of the information and statistics and game prep kind of filled up the time that I would normally be watching DVDs or something.”

Everton manager Roberto Martinez is certainly familiar with fitting in the demands of a TV job. He did studio work for ESPN in Brazil during the World Cup.

Howard had always assumed he’d “dabble” in TV work because “it seems like the obvious thing to do.” His experience last season, when stepping into the broadcast booth made his knees tremble, convinced him that he wanted to keep at it.

“I got nervous when I was in the games; I was wanting to learn all of the time,” Howard said. “I was trying to absorb as much information as I could, and that spoke volumes to me because there wasn’t a lot of things that I felt that passionate about.”

For NBC, Howard’s presence is highly appealing as it sells international soccer to an American audience. His fame makes him a recognizable face to more casual fans, while his long, successful Premier League career makes him a credible voice.

“He adds such a unique perspective to our broadcasts,” said NBC coordinating producer Pierre Moossa.

Play-by-play announcer Arlo White joked that “this is our biggest signing of the Premier League offseason in the transfer window.”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote