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USC coach accepts some blame in Shaw situation

By WTOP Staff

GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California coach Steve Sarkisian believes he shares blame with the athletic department for publicizing cornerback Josh Shaw’s fictitious story about injuring his ankles while saving his nephew from drowning.

Sarkisian also said Thursday that the suspended Shaw could “potentially” return to the Trojans at some point this season, news that was welcomed by Shaw’s attorney.

“Obviously there’s some other things that need to take place,” Sarkisian said Thursday after USC’s practice. “But in the meantime, he’s got to take care of his health and take care of himself, and when the time is right to bring him back, we will.”

The first-year coach said Shaw still hasn’t told the Trojans exactly how he sprained both of his ankles last weekend, extending this curious distraction into the weekend of Sarkisian’s debut game. No. 15 USC hosts Fresno State on Saturday.

Shaw admitted his elaborate story of heroism was a lie Wednesday in a meeting with USC officials, but offered no alternate explanation. Shaw was accompanied by attorney Donald Etra, who said no criminal activity was involved in Shaw’s injuries.

“The injury was caused by a fall from his balcony at his apartment,” Etra told The Associated Press on Thursday. “He is very remorseful. He accepted responsibility for telling the untruth. He has apologized to USC, and he’s looking forward to putting this behind him.”

Shaw lives at a large apartment complex on Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles, sharing a place with teammate Kevon Seymour.

The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that a man named Joshua Shaw was mentioned — but not as a suspect — in a report involving a break-in at a downtown apartment building Saturday night. The department has not made the report public.

Etra said his office is still “doing further investigations” into the circumstances of Shaw’s injury, which is why the fifth-year senior hasn’t fully explained his injuries to the school. Etra has represented Rihanna, Snoop Dogg and other prominent clients.

Shaw still hopes to earn the chance to play for the Trojans this season after his injuries have healed, Etra said: “I think that would be a very positive outcome.”

Sarkisian didn’t seem concerned that Shaw hadn’t given him the true explanation for his injuries.

“He was unable to,” Sarkisian said. “(When) he actually admitted to us that he was lying, it was in the presence of his attorney, and so really that’s a better question for his attorney. He didn’t tell us, and we weren’t really privy to ask, quite honestly.”

While attempting to move his focus toward his debut game, Sarkisian also expressed regret for USC’s decision to publicize Shaw’s story, saying it “had as much to do with me as anybody else.”

“Moving forward, we’ll be a little bit more patient,” Sarkisian added. “I just felt like the last thing we needed was Josh Shaw rolling around in a wheelchair and everybody saying what happened. We tried to get in front of it, and it didn’t work out for us. It’s disappointing, but we’ll always continue to support Josh in his efforts. He’s a Trojan. He made a mistake, which kids make, but we’ve got to be here for them and help them get better.”

USC kept with its usual policy of making no players available to reporters on Thursdays before games. Sarkisian said the Trojans showed no signs of distraction while they went through a spirited practice for Saturday’s season opener at the Coliseum.

Practice had barely ended before Sarkisian faced a new imbroglio: Senior running back Anthony Brown has quit the team and apparently accused Sarkisian of racism on social media. Brown, a former starting cornerback, was unlikely to play a major role for the Trojans this season.

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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