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Temple aims for bowl bid in 2nd year under Rhule

By WTOP Staff

AARON BRACY
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Second-year Temple coach Matt Rhule has clear expectations for this season.

“We’re expecting ourselves to be bowl eligible,” Rhule said. “We don’t put any limit on what we can do and don’t put any excuses on what we can’t do. We’re just going to go compete.”

Rhule endured a 2-10 mark in his first season and the Owls’ initial one in the newly formed American Athletic Conference. But the coach is optimistic after the Owls finished well, winning 41-21 at Memphis in the season’s finale after losing the three previous games by a combined 13 points.

The Owls, who were picked to finish eighth in the 11-team AAC, open their season Aug. 28 at Vanderbilt.

“Now we know who we are, what we’re doing and the players are comfortable in the system,” Rhule said. “Last year there were times you feel like you’re the only person who knows what you want. You’re trying to get all of these people on the same page. In year two, all of the people are on the same page. It goes from being an introductory phase to being something where we all work together.”

If they are to reach their fifth bowl in school history, the Owls will need to continue the pace they began under the offensive-minded Rhule after averaging 24.9 points and accumulating 4,788 total yards in 2013. But Temple needs to improve the other side of the ball after ranking last in the conference in total defense last season while allowing opponents to score 29.8 points per contest.

Five things to know about Temple:

TACKLING MACHINE: With 99 solo tackles, linebacker Tyler Matakevich led the nation in 2013. He has 237 tackles in the last two seasons.

Rhule had high praise for the 6-foot-1, 230-pound junior.

“He’s a leader, he’s tough, he’s physical, he represents what we want to represent,” Rhule said. “Players around him respond to him. He has the physical tools, the mental tools and the intangibles – the instincts, the feel for the game – that are hard to find. I don’t think there’s any secret why he led the nation in tackles last year and right now he’s much better than he was last year.”

UNDER CENTER: Sophomore P.J. Walker will run the Temple offense after shining as a true freshman last season when he passed for 2,084 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven starts. Walker also ran for 488 yards and 3 TDs.

“They know they have a guy who can win, a guy who is dynamic,” Rhule said. “He’s someone they believe in because he’s a good person, a winner and great teammate. He’s only going to get better and better and better.”

Rhule would like to see the 6-1, 200-pound Walker improve his decision making and cut down on mistakes after throwing eight picks last season.

THE CENTER: Snapping the ball to Walker will be arguably one of the Owls’ best players in junior center Kyle Friend.

Temple will need Friend to be good, too, because he’s the only offensive lineman returning in a unit that will be implementing four new starters.

“He’s big, strong, fast and extremely intelligent,” Rhule said. “He keeps everyone on the same page.”

KICKING GAME: Temple made just three field goals last season, on nine attempts, and doesn’t have a player returning that made one.

Sophomore Jim Cooper went 0-for-3 last season but has shown promise in the preseason in a three-man battle with freshman Austin Jones and junior Tyler Mayes. Rhule said the competition for the starting position will continue until the season opener.

“There’s probably not an area more vital,” he said. “We have to be able to score points in the red zone and feel really certain about what we’re doing.”

IMPROVING THE D: Rhule is banking on junior college transfers Alex Wells and Khiry Lucas to help solidify the Owls’ secondary that gave up 3,583 yards through the air last season.

The coach also has emphasized getting pressure on the quarterback and feels Matt Ioannidis, who led the team with three sacks last year, along with Sharif Finch and Praise Martin-Oguike, will have the greatest impact on improving the defensive line.

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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