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Malzahn’s impact makes Iron Bowl even more heated

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — It’s a tough time to be Auburn’s coach, no matter how easy Gus Malzahn has made it look.

Nick Saban has had rival Alabama collecting five-star recruits and national titles with such relentless regularity that fans and pundits whisper he may be one of the most talented college coaches ever.

Then comes Malzahn, a former Arkansas high school coach who led the sixth-ranked Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and national championship game in his first season. The run included a tense first Iron Bowl matchup decided only when Chris Davis crossed the goal line to cap a 109-yard return of a missed field goal.

Then there was a new question: Has Auburn finally found a coach who can stand up to Saban? After all, Malzahn & Co. had stationed Davis in the end zone in the first place.

“Without almost any warning, he’s being challenged not by Urban Meyer or Bob Stoops, he’s being challenged by somebody right down the highway who was a high school football coach eight or nine years ago,” ESPN commentator and radio talk show host Paul Finebaum said of Saban.

Malzahn has a long way to go to challenge Saban’s résumé, which includes three national titles at Alabama and one at LSU. His Tigers open against his home state team, Arkansas, on Saturday.

Still, the Iron Bowl suddenly seems even more intriguing than usual going into this season, and that’s saying something for a rivalry that permeates offices, churches and just about everywhere else in the state year-round. Alabama and Auburn have combined for four of the last five national titles but are both entering a season with Top 10 rankings for only the fourth time.

It’s Malzahn’s offense versus Saban’s defense. Tempo versus pro-style. New-school versus old-school.

If one classic Iron Bowl isn’t enough evidence that it could be something to watch the next few seasons, then how about two?

If Malzahn wins again this season, Finebaum said, “It would be one of the greatest seismic shifts in recent college football history.”

Malzahn was offensive coordinator during Auburn’s national championship season in 2010 that featured the biggest comeback in the rivalry’s history, a Cam Newton-fueled 28-27 win by the Tigers.

Steve Spurrier is a believer in his pal Malzahn, who shares his knack for playcalling and offensive innovation. Malzahn shaped his offense around Newton’s super-sized abilities for passing and power runs.

“Gus Malzahn is one of the best coaches in the country, not just the SEC,” Spurrier said at the league’s media days. “I think everybody knows that. They didn’t win that national championship unless he was there.”

Auburn has fired two head coaches whose tenures were culminated by poundings from Saban and the Tide. Tommy Tuberville’s final game at Auburn was a 36-0 defeat. Gene Chizik was gone the day after a 49-0 Iron Bowl loss, and lost 42-14 the year after the comeback win. A final, dreadful season came after Malzahn had left to take over at Arkansas State.

Both coaches had directed Auburn to undefeated seasons.

Malzahn, like Saban, has singular focus and seems an unlikely candidate to get sidetracked by success. He often celebrates big plays with a fist-pumping “Boom” and victories with a trip to Waffle House, just like when he was coaching high school.

“You’ve just got to take it one game at a time,” Malzahn said. “You can enjoy it if you win, right there for that moment. Then you’ve got to put it behind you and think about the next game and just the process and everything that goes with it.”

Auburn’s offense went from struggling to leading the nation in rushing in Malzahn’s first season. His veteran coaching staff also remained intact after last season, a good indicator of stability.

Tight end C.J. Uzomah calls him “a football genius” and doesn’t worry about rival coaches solving Malzahn’s versatile up-tempo offense.

“I think he’s definitely got enough tricks in his bag to be able to adjust for 50 years,” Uzomah said.

Associate head coach Rodney Garner played for the Tigers during Pat Dye’s run of four straight SEC titles starting in the late 1980s and said Malzahn’s competitiveness reminds him of his old coach.

Bespectacled and cerebral, he seldom publicly displays much emotion off the sidelines and doesn’t have the famous Saban scowl to show off his feisty side.

Garner said that’s misleading.

“I think he is definitely competitive enough. I think he’s tough enough. I think it’s a bad rap when people question his toughness, he’s a tough guy.”

He added: “He has high expectations for everything that he’s touching.”

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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