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Sumlin ready for more out of No. 21 Texas A&M

By WTOP Staff

PETE IACOBELLI
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin knows his Aggies have more to accomplish. Still, he couldn’t help but take pride in the team’s dominating show at Southeastern Conference power South Carolina.

“We’re not where we want to be, but I’ll put it this way: We’re not going anywhere anytime soon,” Sumlin said after the 21st-ranked Aggies beat No. 9 South Carolina 52-21 Thursday night.

Few expected Texas A&M to click so fast or so well against the Gamecocks, practically unbeatable at home the past three seasons. But the Aggies and sophomore quarterback Kenny Hill showed they would keep moving forward in their third SEC season.

Hill, a sophomore as quiet and unassuming as his predecessor Johnny Manziel was brash and glitzy, threw for a school record 511 yards passing — the most ever allowed by the Gamecocks in program history.

Texas A&M’s 680 yards of total offense was also the most ever allowed by South Carolina, the preseason pick to win SEC Eastern Division. The Aggies’ performance was a big ice bucket of water thrown on the Gamecocks’ defense, one of the country’s best in leading them to three straight 11-2 seasons.

Texas A&M scored seven touchdowns in their first 11 possessions as Hill connected with 12 receivers.

Hill was 44 of 60 with three touchdowns. Tailback Tra Carson scored three times and receiver Malcome Kennedy had 14 catches for 137 yards.

“I thought the kids went out there and had some fun,” A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital said. “And they’re a fun group of kids to watch.”

Steve Spurrier didn’t have much fun watching this one. The Gamecocks’ 10th-year coach is more accustomed to handing out such beatings than receiving them.

“I think our players are better than what they showed, but I don’t know,” Spurrier said. “We have no pass rush, coverage was so-so and (the Aggies) knew what they were doing.”

Here’s some things to take away from Texas A&M’s win:

RETHINK THE SEC RACES?: Maybe Texas A&M has something for Alabama, Auburn and LSU in the SEC West. Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin’s teams had always been able to score, but quarterback Kenny Hill showed a steadiness and poise to let his receivers get open rather than Manziel running around from defenders seeking to make a play. When the Aggies wanted to slow things down, runners Trey Williams, Brandon Williams and Tra Carson were able to gain significant chunks on the ground.

In the East, the Gamecocks were the preseason pick over Georgia and Florida. But rebuilt defensive line and secondary showed it’s not ready to take on complex SEC offenses.

WHERE’S CLOWNEY?: Both teams had hoped their young defensive ends would have an immediate impact on the field, but neither Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett or South Carolina’s Darius English got much going. While the 6-foot-5 Garrett — considered a five-star prospect in the last recruiting cycle — got a late sack, English was held to two tackles as the Gamecocks struggled to put any pressure on Hill.

NEW APPROACH UNDER CENTER: Texas A&M fans accusted to Johnny Football had better get used to Hill’s far-less flashy style. Don’t call him “Kenny Football,” he said after the game because he’s not crazy about that. He was nicknamed “King of the Hill” at Southlake High School and will let media members decide, he said, what to call him.

Manziel couldn’t resist the chance to show out for the cameras, something that Hill says does not come naturally to him. If Hill keeps throwing for 500 yards a game, fans will call him anything he wants.

DAVIS’ IMPACT: This is something South Carolina fans don’t want to see happen again. Davis ran for 1,183 yards in 2013, the fourth best single-season rushing mark in school history. However, he managed just 125 of that over the final four games. In this one, Davis didn’t start because of injuries during camp, then managed just 15 yards rushing before re-bruising his ribs and missing the second half. That may have been the coach’s way of keeping him healthy since Texas A&M scored just after halftime to lead 38-14 and put things out of reach.

SEC NETWORK: The fledging network put on a full-court press at South Carolina and gave SEC fans and subscribers plenty of coverage from all angles on and off the field. While the Texas A&M-South Carolina game was a first-time showcase, it will be interesting to see if the network can bring the same wall-to-wall attention to more games this fall and beyond.

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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