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Raiders prepare to host Lions in exhibition game

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Two days of practice in front of boisterous Raiders supporters gave Oakland’s newcomers a taste of the passion of the fan base.

They will get to see more of that Friday night when the Raiders play their first home exhibition game of the season against the Detroit Lions.

The atmosphere in the Coliseum doesn’t figure to be quite as intense as it was in Oxnard this week when fans were packed around the two practice fields to watch the Raiders work with the Dallas Cowboys.

The Raiders fans greatly outnumbered Dallas supporters and provided the soundtrack for the practice with loud cheers and derogatory chants toward the Cowboys. One fan even got involved in a brawl, swinging a helmet at a Cowboys defender.

“These are some of the best fans I have ever laid my eyes on,” new defensive tackle Antonio Smith said. “They get down with you.”

One Raiders newcomer needs little introduction to the team’s nation of supporters. Running back Maurice Jones-Drew is a longtime Raiders fan who grew up in the Bay Area and went to games at the Coliseum as a child.

Jones-Drew got hurt the past two years as a visitor in Oakland but is looking forward to his first home game in front of his hometown fans.

“It’s going to be exciting to have everyone there, people that I grew up with that are Raider fans, season-ticket holders,” he said. “It’s going to be exciting. I just want to go out there, try and play a perfect game, strive to be perfect, and we’ll see how it goes.”

The Raiders were far from perfect in their exhibition opener, a 10-6 loss at Minnesota. There were 13 penalties, numerous dropped passes, missed tackles and blown coverages as the first-team offense led by new quarterback Matt Schaub generated just one first down on three drives and the starting defense struggled to get off the field.

Coach Dennis Allen said he expects to see a far different team Friday following two intense practices against the Cowboys.

“I’m hoping to see improvement,” Allen said. “We’ve got to clean up the penalties. That’s obviously been a big point of emphasis. I’m looking for us to go out and make some plays both offensively and defensively. Our guys have worked extremely hard and I think these couple of days against the Cowboys will help us in getting ready for that.”

The Lions didn’t get to see much at all from their offense in their exhibition opening 13-12 win over the Cleveland Browns. Quarterback Matthew Stafford played just one series, going 2 for 4 for 18 yards and leading Detroit to a field goal.

Star receiver Calvin Johnson was a healthy scratch as the Lions are being extra careful with their top player after offseason surgeries on his finger and knees.

Coach Jim Caldwell hasn’t said how much time, if any, those two stars will get against the Raiders.

But the Lions hope that just making this cross-country trip will be beneficial preparation for the season when they will have to make a couple of long flights.

“Going out there is good for us,” running back Reggie Bush said. “We’re going to play at Arizona this season and there’s London, so it’s good to get out of the time zone. It’s nice to have that in a preseason game.”

___

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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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