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Bielema ready for difficult opening test at Auburn

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema has talked throughout the preseason about his increased comfort level at Arkansas, and how he expects that to translate to a better team on the field.

The second-year coach won’t have to wait long now to test just how far the Razorbacks have come since last season’s disaster.

After a winless run in the Southeastern Conference, the first for Arkansas since joining the league in 1992, Bielema hopes to snap a nine-game losing streak when the Razorbacks open the season at No. 6 Auburn on Saturday.

Last season’s highlights were far and few between for Arkansas, whose 3-9 record marked the first losing season of Bielema’s head coaching career.

The former Wisconsin coach has continually praised the progress of the Razorbacks during preseason camp, and he hopes an opening conference game will add to the urgency for a team desperate to rebound from last season. Even if that opening game comes against the Tigers, who reached the national championship game last season before losing 34-31 to Florida State.

“I think it allows you to focus a little bit early on,” Bielema said. “Now, at the time this was scheduled, they weren’t the defending SEC champs and they didn’t come within a hair of chinny-chin-chin of winning the national championship.”

Bielema and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn’s careers have intersected since the day they were both hired into the SEC following the 2012 season — and not always because of on-the-field events. The two engaged in a bit of back and forth regarding player safety in an up-tempo offense prior to last season, and their opposite opinions were once again in the news this offseason thanks to a debate over whether to bar offenses from snapping the ball before 10 seconds had elapsed on the play clock.

“We’re obviously two totally different kinds of people, probably, in certain regards,” Bielema said. “But two very similar people when you look at the details of what we believe in.”

Auburn defeated the Razorbacks 35-17 last season, doing so in Malzahn’s return to his native state of Arkansas.

The two have downplayed their rivalry, and the focus this week appears to have finally shifted away from the coaches to the quarterbacks — with Auburn starter Nick Marshall suspended to start the game because of a marijuana possession citation and Arkansas’ Brandon Allen finally healthy after battling a shoulder injury for most of last season.

Allen completed 49.6 percent of his passes last season, but he was able to practice only one day a week and received numbing shots in his throwing shoulder in order to play after injuring his shoulder in the third game of the season.

The Razorbacks’ passing game finished last in the SEC, and Allen’s return to health has been one of many reasons Bielema expects improvement. Arkansas also has the talented running back trio of Jonathan Williams, Alex Collins and Korliss Marshall.

Allen’s truck was involved in an early morning fire on Monday, an incident that’s being investigated by police and fire officials as a potential case of arson.

Bielema, however, doesn’t expect the incident to affect Allen’s play this week against the Tigers — who the Razorbacks hope to shock on their way to winning their first SEC game since 2012.

“I think (Allen) would like to just thank all the people that reached out to him,” Bielema said. “But other than that, I really don’t see it being a big issue with him.”

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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