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Vols defense wants to build on its early momentum

By WTOP Staff

STEVE MEGARGEE
AP Sports Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee is accustomed to kicking off the year with a dominant defensive performance.

This time, the Volunteers want to keep that momentum going the rest of the season for a change.

Tennessee held Utah State star quarterback Chuckie Keeton in check and forced three turnovers Sunday in a 38-7 rout of the Aggies. The performance offered reason to believe Tennessee could have an improved defense, even though all-Southeastern Conference linebacker A.J. Johnson is the only returning starter from last year’s front seven.

“It was just smart swarming that we practiced and preached all camp, all year long really,” defensive end/linebacker Curt Maggitt said.

Then again, this type of season-opening performance isn’t all that unusual for Tennessee, even during the program’s recent slide.

The Vols blanked UT Martin 50-0 in their 2010 season opener and shut out Austin Peay 45-0 to kick off the 2013 season. They opened 2012 by picking off four passes and producing a safety in a 35-21 victory over North Carolina State.

Tennessee ended up with losing records each of those seasons. Tennessee’s 2012 defense statistically was among the worst in school history. Last year, the Vols ranked 11th out of 14 SEC teams in total defense.

They’re trying to get better even though they’ve gotten younger, particularly up front. Their next test comes Saturday against Arkansas State, which opened its season with a 37-10 victory over Montana State.

“We’re going to have to swarm,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “We’re going to have to play with great effort. If we don’t, we become very average.”

Tennessee’s ability to stifle Utah State provided cause for optimism.

Last year, Tennessee continually struggled to slow down mobile quarterbacks such as Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Auburn’s Nick Marshall. The Vols showed Sunday they’d improved in that regard.

Keeton, who was being promoted by Utah State as a potential Heisman Trophy candidate, threw two interceptions and only one touchdown pass. He ran for only 12 yards on eight carries in his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for the final eight games of the 2013 season.

Utah State didn’t cross midfield until its first drive of the second half, didn’t score until the fourth quarter and went just 3 of 14 on third-down conversions. The Vols face another mobile quarterback Saturday when they try slowing down Fredi Knighten, who rushed for 104 yards and threw for 219 yards against Montana State.

Tennessee’s improved speed on defense also prevented the Vols from being as vulnerable to the big play, a major weakness in recent seasons. Utah State’s lone touchdown came on a two-play, 75-yard drive, but the Aggies’ offense didn’t have any other gains of over 16 yards.

The defense was making big plays instead of allowing them. Tennessee forced three turnovers that resulted in 17 points. Johnson had his first career interception and also his second career forced fumble, with both takeaways leading to touchdowns. Johnson had such a productive evening that he even conducted Tennessee’s band in a rendition of “Rocky Top” during the Vols’ postgame celebration.

“It was a great feeling,” Johnson said. “I’d never done that before. For a second, I was off beat. I had to get on beat, but it felt good.”

Johnson forced the fumble while helping out on kickoff coverage. The star linebacker’s willingness to assist on special teams shows how he’s leading a defense that has plenty of talent but little experience.

“I spoke with A.J. the other day, and I said, ‘For as much as you hold yourself accountable, you need to start holding your teammates accountable to the same accountability you hold yourself to,’ ” Jones said.

If the Vols continue following Johnson’s example, this might be the year they continue playing solid defense long after their opening game.

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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