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Sooners talking national title

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — The Oklahoma Sooners are boldly talking about playing for a national title.

“It’s where you want to be,” quarterback Trevor Knight said. “You look at the walls all around this place, that’s what’s happened before and where we want to be this year.”

There’s plenty of reason for confidence. The Sooners capped off a strong finish to last season with a win over Alabama in the Sugar Bowl that energized the rabid fan base. Oklahoma now must back up the excitement it has generated, starting Aug. 30 at home against Louisiana Tech.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is walking a fine line. On one hand, he likes the idea of carrying the momentum from the Sugar Bowl into this season. On the other, he feels the Sooners need to remain hungry and look forward.

“I don’t ever buy into whatever you did last year means you’re going to do this this year,” he said. “Some of the parts you feel good about are the number of guys that are back. It’s still going to be different in some areas, and it has to come together. You earn your stripes every year.”

Tight end Blake Bell said the Sooners have put in the time to be great.

“This year seems like it could be a special year,” he said. “I’ve been here for four summers, and coming into this one, it just feels like something’s different.

The Sooners could be tested Sept. 13 at home against Tennessee, but play most of their toughest Big 12 games at home.

Here are five things to look for from the Sooners this season:

GREAT DEFENSE: Oklahoma led the Big 12 in total defense last season, and most of the unit returns, giving defensive coordinator Mike Stoops hope for even better production this time around. The Sooners have high expectations, even with linebacker Frank Shannon, last year’s top tackler, facing a suspension.

“There are signs we can be a better defense than we were a year ago, but again, it’s a whole ‘nother year,” Mike Stoops said. “We have to start at ground zero and work this group into a position that can consistently compete each time we step on the field.”

It’s Oklahoma’s second year in the 3-4 after switching from a 4-3, so the defense should be more refined this time around.

“Scheme-wise, we’re light years ahead of where we were a year ago and what we’re doing, the wrinkles we want to add to it, how we’re handling the different formations we’re seeing from the offenses,” Bob Stoops said.

CONSISTENT KNIGHT? Knight was brilliant in the Sugar Bowl, passing for 348 yards and four touchdowns on his way to MVP honors. However, he also was in and out of the starting lineup last season and struggled before he found his footing. In his first four games, he completed just 22 of 49 passes with four touchdowns and three interceptions while relying more on his running skills. In his final four games, he completed 57 of 85 passes with five touchdowns and two interceptions. Oklahoma hopes the latter is the real Trevor Knight.

DORIAL GREEN-BECKHAM: Oklahoma added the 6-foot-6 star receiver after he was released from Missouri. Last season, he caught 59 passes for 883 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Sooners are in the process of applying for a waiver to make him immediately eligible. If he plays, he pushes an already dangerous offense to a new level.

WHO WILL CARRY THE BALL? Oklahoma lost its top two rushers from last season, Brennan Clay and Damien Williams. None of the backs stood out during the spring. Alex Ross and Keith Ford are the top returnees, but they combined for just 26 carries last season. Freshman Samaje Perine has drawn raves from the coaching staff. Bob Stoops is high on the group.

GAME-CHANGING KICKER: Michael Hunnicutt should be one of the nation’s best kickers. He was a second-team all-Big 12 last season, but he has loftier goals this season. Bob Stoops believes Hunnicutt could be an All-American. A weapon of that caliber could be critical in a tight game.

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Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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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