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Louisville, Petrino begin second chapter together

By WTOP Staff

GARY B. GRAVES
AP Sports Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Other than grayer hair and a few wrinkles, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino doesn’t look much different from his first go-round with the Cardinals.

The 53-year-old quickly notes that he has changed in other ways. Humbled by an off-field incident resulting in his firing at Arkansas in April 2012, he understands that second chances don’t come easy or often — particularly at the school where Petrino began his head coaching career.

“I’m very fortunate and very appreciative of (athletic director) Tom Jurich and Dr. (James) Ramsey in giving me this opportunity,” Petrino said during last month’s Atlantic Coast Conference media days. “I’ve certainly grown and changed throughout the years in things that I’ve experienced and things that I’ve caused myself. And I’m just fortunate to be able to continue in the sport that I love so much and to coach football.”

One constant is Petrino’s offensive expertise, which is why he’s eager to begin his sequel with Louisville as it enters the Atlantic Coast Conference. Hired in January to replace Charlie Strong, Petrino wants to continue the Cardinals’ success with the same high-powered philosophy that put them on the map.

“Our number one goal is to win a national championship,” Petrino said Thursday at Louisville’s kickoff luncheon. “That’s something we’re working on every day to try to achieve.”

Petrino is 83-30 in nine seasons as a college coach, including 41-9 in his first stint with the Cardinals from 2003-06. Most encouraging for the Cardinals entering their new league is his 22-15 mark as a first-year coach.

He went 9-4 as a rookie coach with Louisville and 8-4 last fall at Western Kentucky. Petrino’s only losing first season was 5-7 at Arkansas in 2008.

Most impressive about Petrino’s lone season with the Hilltoppers was helping them achieve school records for FBS wins and offensive yards with 5,502. WKU’s yardage total was just 489 fewer than Louisville, which returns with an offense featuring depth at wide receiver and running back and a presumptive starting QB in redshirt sophomore Will Gardner. Those factors have former Cardinals coach Howard Schnellenberger confident that Petrino can get off to a fast start the second time around.

“Based on past experience, to use an old saying, he’s sitting in the catbird seat with the talent level he has there,” Schnellenberger said. “He’s older and wiser and I would think, more productive.”

___

Here are five things to look for as Louisville begins a new chapter in the ACC and a second with Petrino:

WHERE THERE’S A WILL: Gardner is certainly aware of the expectations in following Bridgewater, but they’re nothing compared to what Petrino expects of his quarterbacks — especially in workouts. “He does put a lot of pressure on you in practice, which is good because it’ll make the game easier,” said the 6-foot-5 Gardner, whom Petrino has praised for his quick grasp of the spread offense.

SEMINOLE SHOWDOWN: Louisville’s Oct. 30 meeting with defending national champion Florida State is already being viewed as this season’s marquee game in the ACC and certainly by the Cardinals. Other than their January 2013 Sugar Bowl upset of Florida, they’ve played few games this meaningful in recent years and definitely want to prove they belong in their new league.

CENTRAL RECEIVING: The return of top wideout DeVante Parker (885 yards, 12 TDs) for his senior season is big in terms of giving Louisville a speedy, deep threat. And once again Louisville is loaded with targets such as dependable senior Eli Rogers, speedsters Kai De La Cruz and James Quick and TE Gerald Christian.

NEW-LOOK DEFENSE: Not only is Louisville switching from a 4-3 base alignment to a 3-4, but the Cardinals must replace seven defensive starters. Some of the returnees will play new positions: Terell Floyd moves from cornerback to safety, while sacks leader Lorenzo Mauldin becomes a hybrid end/linebacker.

CARDS IN BLACK: The plan is for the Cardinals to wear all-black uniforms just for the Sept. 1 season opener against Miami to promote Louisville’s ACC debut. But players are giddy about finally getting to wear them after being denied by former coach Charlie Strong, so don’t be shocked to see them again.

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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