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Texas Strong: Longhorns going in new direction

By WTOP Staff

JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — New Texas coach Charlie Strong wasted no time delivering fans a bit of the honesty he demands from his players.

Way back in April, on the first stop of a statewide introductory tour, Strong told Longhorns fans Texas “will not be in the national championship game.”

Wait. What? Talk about a culture change. Strong promised one and he plans to deliver.

Until Texas sheds its entitlement image — even after four years of mediocre football — it can’t expect to play for any kind of trophies.

Few outside of Texas would presume the Longhorns could even argue their way into the Top 25 after four years without a Big 12 title and a paltry 18-17 record in league play. Those results ended the 16-year tenure of Mack Brown and when Strong was hired from Louisville, he promised a return to championship form the first day he was on campus.

But that little bit of no-title truth-telling a few months later ruffled some Texas fans who always want their team to shoot for the moon, regardless of whether they’ve got the boosters to simply fire a pea-shooter.

That wasn’t the sort of culture change they’d been expecting. But that’s Strong, who demands honesty from his players and is willing to deliver it to the fans, even when it hurts.

“The culture we stepped into is you look at a team, a group of seniors that hasn’t had a double-digit winning season since they’ve been here,” Strong said. “You can’t feel entitled because you’re at the University of Texas, that ‘I have arrived.’ At no point have we arrived.”

Five things to know about 2014 Longhorns

ASH INJURIES: Quarterback situation is a fragile position considering starter David Ash’s injury history and the lack of experience behind him on the bench. Ash missed most of last season with concussion symptoms but says his head is clear now and he’s ready to play.

There’s a steep drop off if Ash he gets hurt again. Sophomore Tyrone Swoopes was shaky in the spring game and freshman Jerrod Heard is the only other scholarship quarterback.

CATCHING THE BALL: Whoever’s throwing the ball needs someone to catch it. Jaxon Shipley had 56 catches last season but injured a hamstring in training camp and when he’ll return is unknown. Kendall Sanders, who caught 37 passes in 2013, was kicked off the team after a felony sexual assault arrest in July. The Longhorns signed five freshman receivers who could be pressed into early playing time.

BUILDING THE DEFENSE: Texas had one of the worst defenses in school history in 2013 and the 550 yards rushing surrendered to BYU was a national embarrassment Strong still uses to motivate a turnaround. Strong’s steady rise from assistant to head coach was built on defense as he was defensive coordinator for two national championships at Florida.

The strength will be up front with a line anchored by defensive tackle Malcom Brown and end Cedric Reed. Senior Linebacker Jordan Hicks, who missed most of the last two seasons with injuries, also returns.

SUSPENSIONS: Like Sanders, Montrel Meander was booted after a sexual assault charge stemming from the same incident. Strong also released backup running backs Joe Bergeron and Jalen Overstreet after team rules violations and he also suspended three other potential starters for at least one game: offensive lineman Desmond Harrison, wide receiver/running back Daje Johnson and safety Josh Turner. The discipline served as a wakeup call for the rest of the team to get in line or get lost.

RUNNING BACKS: The strength of the offense rests on the healthy legs of running backs Malcolm Brown and Jonathan Gray. Brown rushed for a team-high 904 yards last season and nine touchdowns. Gray added 780 yards and average 4.9 yards per carry, but torn an Achilles tendon late in the season. Gray was cleared to return to practice in time for training camp.

THE SCHEDULE:

Strong gets no favors from a schedule that opens with a North Texas team that went 9-4 last year before hosting BYU. Then it’s a trip to Arlington to play UCLA. Then Texas opens Big 12 play with a three-game stretch of Kansas, defending champion Baylor and preseason favorite Oklahoma.

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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