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No. 6 Auburn unlikely to overlook Arkansas

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — The Auburn Tigers are unlikely to dismiss a team coming off a lousy season when it couldn’t even win a Southeastern Conference game.

The sixth-ranked Tigers open defense of their SEC championship Saturday against an Arkansas team that’s in pretty much the same situation they were going into last season.

The Razorbacks went 3-9 and lost all eight SEC games just like Auburn did two years ago before a dramatic bounce-back that ended in the national championship game.

“They went through the (kind of) season we went through just two seasons ago,” Tigers defensive tackle Jeff Whitaker said. “Now they’re coming out and redeeming themselves.”

Still, Auburn is a three-touchdown favorite in the game even with uncertainty about when quarterback Nick Marshall will play after a one-game demotion to the bench for getting ticketed for marijuana possession in July. Sophomore Jeremy Johnson will start his first SEC game but coach Gus Malzahn said Marshall will play.

“It’s going to be a tough matchup. Out of the gate you’re going against one of the most proficient offenses in 2013 — but 2013 was 2013,” Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. “Whatever shows up in the backfield, and whatever person lines up on the field, we’ve just got to roll with it and make the best of the situation.”

The rivalry has featured plenty of gamesmanship since Bielema and Malzahn arrived. They’ve carried out a public debate on hurry-up offenses. Bielema had also indicated Auburn sent an incomplete game video last season, and an Auburn player appeared to fake an injury.

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Here are things to watch when No. 6 Auburn hosts Arkansas on Saturday:

QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS: The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Johnson was effective when he played last season, but has limited experience against SEC opponents. Arkansas’ Brandon Allen played most of last season with shoulder problems, and the passing game struggled. Now, he’s healthy but also dealing with a potential distraction after his truck was burned early Monday morning. Razorbacks coaches and players don’t think that will affect Allen in the game. “I feel like that was the least of his worries out there on the field, which is right where we want him,” right tackle Brey Cook said.

DEEP BACKFIELDS: This game features no shortage of solid running backs, but the pecking order on both sides could be determined as the season progresses. Arkansas has Alex Collins, Jonathan Williams and Korliss Marshall. The Tigers counter with Cameron Artis-Payne, Corey Grant and freshman Roc Thomas.

SEC OPENER: Bielema, a former Wisconsin coach, likes the prospect of opening against an SEC opponent, and not just because he’s 8-0 in openers. “I always used to sit in a conference from afar and I’d look down here and these guys were playing one another early on and all the attention would be (on the SEC),” he said. “I thought it was a great thing.” It’s the first time Arkansas has started off with a league game since 1980 while in the Southwest Conference.

IN THEIR DEFENSE: Both teams are hoping for marked improvement in this area. The Razorbacks have three new defensive assistants, including coordinator Robb Smith, after finishing ninth in the SEC in total defense. Defensive end Trey Flowers leads the way. Auburn was 12th in yards allowed but has defensive lineman Gabe Wright and linebacker Cassanova McKinzy back.

MISSING PLAYERS: Auburn cornerback Jonathon Mincy like Marshall also will play but not start after a June arrest. Starting defensive back Robenson Therezie might not play because of an unspecified eligibility issue, and starters Carl Lawson and Alex Kozan are out with injuries for all or most of the season. Bielema said senior cornerback Tevin Mitchel won’t play because of a lingering hamstring injury.

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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