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Texas opens camp with dismissals, suspensions

By WTOP Staff

JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — New Texas coach Charlie Strong opened his first Longhorns training camp with a tough message for his players: break the rules and there will be consequences.

Strong announced that three potential starters will miss at least one game for team rules violations and confirmed several other players had been dismissed.

Offensive lineman Desmond Harrison, wide receiver Daje Johnson and safety Josh Turner all will miss at least one game for rules violations but will be allowed to practice. Strong said he hasn’t decided yet if they will miss more than one game.

Texas opens the season Aug. 30 at home against North Texas. The Longhorns play BYU and UCLA the next two weeks in state.

Dismissed from the Longhorns and released from their scholarship were running backs Joe Bergeron and Jalen Overstreet, both of whom would have struggled for playing time in a crowded backfield, and safety Chevoski Collins. Bergeron had 1,392 career rushing yards with 25 touchdowns but shared carries with Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray last season as his role diminished.

Strong wouldn’t detail the rules violations other than to say the players broke the core values he stresses of honesty, treating women with respect, no guns and no drugs.

“You have 85 guys on scholarship. If 80 of them are doing it the right way, why can’t the rest of them do it the right way?” Strong said. “They knew the first day I took the job, when I laid out the core values in that first team meeting, what the program is all about.”

Strong also said wide receivers Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander, who were suspended in July after being arrested on rape charges, will not be allowed to return regardless of how their legal cases turn out. Both are scheduled for court appearances next week.

“They can’t work their way back,” Strong said.

Texas hired Strong away from Louisville to replace Mack Brown after 16 seasons and four straight years without a Big 12 title. He signed a 5-year contract worth more than $25 million.

While player attrition can be a natural part of a coaching change, Strong said he didn’t try to run anyone out of the program.

“We’re not in the business of kicking young men out,” Strong said. “The three that were dismissed were repeat offenders. It was constantly over and over and over. At some point, you have to do something.”

Strong shrugged off the idea that the suspensions would hurt the Longhorns on the field. The roster still has plenty of talent, Strong said.

“It’s not like because we suspended some guys we’re going to walk in without players,” Strong said. “We have players, now it’s about developing them.”

David Ash starts training camp as the projected starter at quarterback despite missing most of last season with concussion symptoms and part of spring with a broken bone in his foot. Strong said Ash has been cleared to fully participate in practice but that he’s talked to Ash about trying to avoid tackles.

Strong called his first seven months on the job exciting and enjoyable but that he’s ready to put a team on the field.

“Now it’s time to go build this football team,” Strong said.

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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