Skip to main content

Baylor looks to repeat Big 12 title, not defend it

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

Baylor coach Art Briles quickly dismisses the idea of his Bears defending their Big 12 championship.

The trophy they got for winning their first Big 12 title last season is theirs to keep.

As for trying to repeat as champions and get another trophy this year, the Bears are all in for that.

“Our guys have learned how to win at the highest level and have worked diligently on and off the football field to keep our name good,” Briles said. “We have to learn how to prepare as the hunted as opposed to the hunter. We’ve always been the hunter. And I don’t want to lose that edge and that attitude.”

Once the league’s perennial last-place team, Baylor has four consecutive winning seasons for the first since 1985-88, with four consecutive bowls after 16 seasons in a row without a postgame game. Robert Griffin III became the school’s only Heisman Trophy winner three years ago, and the Bears move into a new campus stadium this season.

Quarterback Bryce Petty, now a legitimate Heisman candidate, and a talented group of receivers led by Antwan Goodley (1,339 yards receiving with Big 12-high 13 TDs) are back on an offense that led the nation with 619 total yards and an NCAA-record 52.4 points per game last season.

Petty, who waited his turn behind Griffin and a record-setting season by Nick Florence, threw for Big 12-leading 4,200 yards with 32 touchdowns and only three interceptions. He also led the league with 14 rushing TDs.

“We already knew what to expect from Bryce Petty. We already knew he was a great athlete, he just had to wait his turn,” Goodley said. “He was a hidden secret for a while, but I think he got his time and he got his chance and he showed it.”

Here are five things to watch as Baylor

BACK ON CAMPUS: For the first time since 1935, the Bears will play home games on their Waco campus when they move into the new $260 million McLane Stadium along Interstate 35 on the banks of the Brazos River. Baylor won its last 10 games at Floyd Casey Stadium, the venue about 4 miles from campus that was home since 1950. The finale was a title-clinching win over Texas on a bitterly cold Saturday last December.

CATCH AND RUN: Five of the Bears’ top six receivers are back from last season, including four who had at least 500 yards with multiple touchdowns. All-purpose threat Levi Norwood, a senior like Goodley, and Clay Fuller, had 47 catches for 733 yards and eight TDs. Big 12 rushing leader Lache Seastrunk (1,177 yards and 11 TDs) bypassed his senior season, but the Bears return sophomores Shock Linwood (881 yards, eight TDs) and Devin Chafin (295 yards, four TDs). And look out for dynamic freshman Johnny Jefferson.

SOLID OAK: DE Shawn Oakman has already made quite an impact, even without starting a game. The former Penn State transfer had 12 1/2 tackles for loss last season after having to sit out 2012. The 6-foot-9, 280-pounder has been steadily working to get better in a starting role. “It’s not a finished product,” he said. “We’re going to see how much better I got when the season comes around.”

SOUR ENDING: The first 11-win season in Baylor history ended with a loss to UCF in the Fiesta Bowl, the Bears’ only BCS game. “It definitely left a bad taste in our mouth,” Goodley said. “We’re excited and trying to get back into that national stage.”

3 IN 13: The Bears play their first three games in a 13-day span, all on different days of the week. The Sunday night opener Aug. 31 is against SMU in the McLane Stadium debut, before Baylor plays Northwestern State at home the following Saturday and then goes to Buffalo for a Friday night game. An open date follows before playing three of the first four Big 12 games on the road.

___

Online:

AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org/

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