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Steelers try to look at positives in opening loss

By WTOP Staff

JIM HAGUE
Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Coach Mike Tomlin tried to put a positive spin on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ preseason-opening loss.

“We had some positives and had some negatives,” Tomlin said after the New York Giants beat the Steelers 20-16 on Saturday night.

“Bottom line is that we didn’t win the game. We had some things we can build upon. We can learn and grow. We’ll take this as part of the process. But we didn’t do enough to win the game and that’s the No. 1 goal. I’m less concerned about style points and more about winning. We have to do a better job of winning the game.”

Ben Roethlisberger played only one series, completing 1-of-2 passes, but it was a 46-yard screen pass to rookie Dri Archer that almost went the distance, if not for a saving tackle from Giants cornerback Prince Amukamara.

“I thought we did good,” Roethlisberger said in quotes provided by the Steelers’ public relations staff. “We got down there and had a good run on first down and a good run on second down (both from Le’Veon Bell). I thought it was a good, solid first series. We moved the ball down the field and got points on the board.”

Bell carried three times for 18 yards on that drive. As a rookie last year, he sprained the middle of his foot in the second preseason game and missed the first three weeks of the regular season. He then went on to set a Steelers record for yards from scrimmage with 1,259 yards rushing and receiving.

“I think we wanted to get me in the game early,” he said. “I obviously feel better than I did last year.”

Shaun Suisham’s first of three field goals, a 26-yarder, gave the Steelers a brief 3-0 lead in the first quarter. It was brief because Rashad Jennings took the first play after the field goal 73 yards for the touchdown that put New York ahead.

Bruce Gradkowski completed 8 of 12 passes, but only for 66 yards and really didn’t get the Steelers close to the end zone. Take away a 28-yard completion to Markus Wheaton and a 17-yarder to Antonio Brown, and Gradkowski didn’t manage much.

But Brown said he felt “total excitement” in playing.

“You get the opportunity to compete against someone other than your teammates,” said Brown, who had two receptions for 21 yards. “You get the game feeling back and get your game jersey on. Just the feeling to get back in the game is great.”

Rookie Howard Jones recovered an ill-advised, backward pass by Giants backup quarterback Ryan Nassib and returned it 28 yards for the Steelers’ lone touchdown of the game, giving them a 16-13 lead with 10:16 remaining in the game.

A lengthy review took place after the play, but it was ruled that Jones, a rookie out of Shepherd, alertly continued on with the play and scored the touchdown.

“It has to be that way,” Tomlin said. “You play those plays out and then let the officials sort it out later.”

The Steelers managed just 4 total yards of rushing in the third quarter on six carries. Third string QB Landry Jones completed 6 of 10 passes, but only for 26 yards.

The Steelers surrendered 312 yards of total offense, but 80 came on the Giants’ final drive.

“As you can see, we have a lot of work to do,” said linebacker Jarvis Jones, who had a sack of Eli Manning midway through the first quarter. “We still have a lot of jelling and get a feel for each other. It was a lot faster than what we had been practicing. But I think we did all right. We need to finish better, then get into the film room and continue to get better.”

The Steelers were moving the ball in the final minutes but Martavis Bryant fumbled the ball after making a 19-yard catch down to the New York 27-yard line with 1:14 remaining.

“I don’t have a lot of outstanding concerns,” Tomlin said. “It’s our first preseason game. We should be better. I expect the results to be better.”

Tomlin said the only minor injury coming out of the game was when starting left guard Ramon Foster received a poke in the eye in the first quarter, but Tomlin said “there doesn’t seem to be ramifications from that.”

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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