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No. 4 Oklahoma ready to make new memories

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma finally gets a chance to live up to the hype.

The Sooners have gotten tons of attention since beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The opener Saturday at home against Louisiana Tech offers the fourth-ranked Sooners a chance to start living up to it.

“Everyone is expecting us to be great, unlike last year,” defensive tackle Chuka Ndulue said. “For us as a team, we know that we haven’t done anything yet. They’re still a lot to be proven, starting with this first game on Saturday.

“Yeah, last year was great, but we still have a lot of work to do to reach our goals.”

Quarterback Trevor Knight received acclaim for his MVP performance against Alabama, and the sophomore is ready to prove he can replicate that effort.

“Received a lot of praise for that game and that’s awesome,” he said. “That’s great and everything, but it’s a new season. It’s not only a new season for me, but a new season for our team, a new group of guys. So I’m excited to take that next step forward and build on that momentum, ride it into this year and start a new chapter.”

Louisiana Tech went 4-8 last season in Skip Holtz’s first year, and he knows he’ll have a major challenge to start his second.

“When you sit down and look at what we are going to be facing on both sides of the ball, sometimes you have one team that will be better on offense than defense, and vice versa,” he said. “The reason this team is receiving so much attention is because it is a very balanced team and a very heavy experienced team with a lot of guys coming back. That is one of the reasons I think they are receiving attention they are with the talent they have.”

Here are some things to watch Saturday night:

OU’s PASS CATCHERS: Sterling Shepard is Oklahoma’s only established receiving threat, but the Sooners boast plenty of talent across the board. Outside receiver Durron Neal and tight end Blake Bell, a converted quarterback, have received the most attention. It will be interesting to see who Knight is comfortable with, given the fact that he started just five games last season and is still getting familiar with most of his options.

IMPROVED DEFENSE? The Sooners switched from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 last season and finished first in the Big 12 in pass defense and total defense. Most of that team is back, and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is optimistic that better things are in store because the returnees are comfortable with the scheme.

“I feel like we’re in great shape in what we want to do and players understanding it and the different wrinkles and how we want to attack people,” he said. “Hopefully, that will lead to fewer mental mistakes and better play overall. I believe it could and will.”

BACKFIELD UNCERTAINTY: With highly touted freshman Joe Mixon suspended for the season, the Sooners lost arguably their most talented back. Keith Ford and Alex Ross will get the first shots to take over the position. Freshman Samaje Perine has impressed throughout camp.

“It’s something that you’re going to want to see in the early games,” Stoops said. “Is anybody ahead of the other assignment-wise, protection-wise, ball security-wise, is anyone better than the other? Who’s making plays that are there and who’s making plays that are extra and he shouldn’t have gotten 30 and he got 30.”

STAR RB: The most accomplished running back in the game will be Louisiana Tech’s Kenneth Dixon. He ran for 1,194 yards and 27 touchdowns as a freshman, then added 917 yards rushing during an injury-shortened sophomore season. He has a grand stage to return to his freshman form.

“Their running back is nifty guy, powerful and strong,” Stoops said. “He’s about 215 pounds. He can make people miss him and run through arm tackles. He’s really a good player.”

QUICK HOOK? The Bulldogs have named Iowa transfer Cody Sokol their starting quarterback over incumbent Ryan Higgins. It will be interesting to see how long Holtz sticks with Sokol if the Bulldogs trail big early.

___

Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CliffBruntAP

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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