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Strong feeling no pressure before 1st Texas game

By WTOP Staff

JIM VERTUNO
AP Sports Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Wearing a burnt orange shirt for the television cameras, Charlie Strong strolled to the podium Monday for his first game-week news conference as the coach of the Texas Longhorns.

Over the course of the next 30 minutes, the man charged with revving up an idling program displayed no sign of the nerves that might come with $5 million-a-year expectations and a spotlight that will shine bright if he beats North Texas on Saturday night, and burn white hot if he loses.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” Strong said. “I don’t feel pressure at all.”

Strong has been preparing for games as a coach for a long time, but his 30 years on the sidelines include only three seasons as a head coach. His only previous job leading a program was a successful three-year run at Louisville where national expectations are not the same as they are at Texas.

And Saturday seemed a long way off back in January day when Strong was introduced to a room so heavily packed with media that his daughter gasped and said, “Oh my God, look at all those cameras.”

Since then, Strong has toured the state to meet fans and run his team through spring drills and preseason training camp. He’s suspended players, kicked others off the team and molded the rest into the squad that will hit the field in search of the program’s first 10-win season and Big 12 title since 2009.

“I never thought this week would come,” Strong said.

There is work still left to do.

Strong noted he’s still tinkering with the offensive line and secondary, and said a lineup and depth chart won’t be released before midweek. He also said three suspended players — offensive lineman Desmond Harrison, safety Josh Turner and wide receiver Daje Johnson, all potential starters — will sit out the opener and suggested they could miss another game after that.

Wide receiver Jaxon Shipley, who had been counted on to be a reliable target for quarterback David Ash, is likely a game-time decision whether he can play after sitting out much of training camp with a hamstring injury.

Strong has talked about bringing a culture change to Texas and ending any sense of entitlement. After eight months of talking about it, his players say they are ready to show it on the field.

“Go out and beat guys down,” senior cornerback Quandre Diggs said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do, and that’s what we plan on doing.”

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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