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Oklahoma, Tulsa share respect

By WTOP Staff

CLIFF BRUNT
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma and Tulsa have a different relationship than many in-state rivals.

There’s no hatred or bulletin-board material when the teams meet, and both coaches say the games help football thrive in Oklahoma.

“It’s great for the state– for our people, for Tulsa, hopefully,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “You have a game that’s close, so travel expenses for both teams . it just works. I know we’re always rooting for them — I know I do — when they are playing somebody else. I want to see them do well. I think there’s a lot of respect that goes both ways with these teams.”

The fourth-ranked Sooners will travel to Tulsa on Saturday looking for their eighth straight win over the Golden Hurricane. Tulsa coach Bill Blankenship says his program looks forward to the matchup, even though Tulsa hasn’t beaten the Sooners since 1996.

“You don’t grow up in Oklahoma and work here as long as I have in this state and not have great admiration for what they do and what they’ve done,” he said. “It’s a very good football team. They’re certainly ranked high, but that ranking, I think, is well deserved if you watch how they play.”

Stoops said he was pulling for the Golden Hurricane in their opener against Tulane and was happy to see them come back to win 38-31 in double overtime. Dane Evans, who threw for 438 yards and four touchdowns, got Stoops’ attention.

“The big difference with Tulsa is Evans, their quarterback, really had a great game the other night and made some great throws and a lot of big plays in the passing game,” Stoops said. “He really, I thought, performed well. It was exciting to see them win in overtime like that.”

Oklahoma has a large fan base in Tulsa, and several of its players are from the city. Tulsa benefits from the exposure and the packed house at 30,000-seat Chapman Stadium.

“I’ve said over and over again how appreciative I am of the University of Oklahoma for doing the schedule they did with us,” Blankenship said. “They have given us a couple times a three game contract, where we go there twice and they come here once. And they’re not afraid to do that. I think that says a lot about them, but it also gives us that opportunity to host those name opponents at home.”

Blankenship said he’s not concerned that a large percentage of the crowd likely will be wearing Oklahoma’s crimson and cream.

“Maybe they’ll change their shirt at halftime, who knows,” he said. “You know, if we’re caught looking at the colors in stadium very long, we won’t play very well. We have a contingent. How many will actually be here, I don’t know, that’s interesting. I think there’s more in blue than there used to be.”

There is one rivalry in the game — it’s between Oklahoma linebacker Dominique Alexander and his older brother, Tulsa defensive end Derrick Alexander. Last year, Dominique’s Sooners won 51-20.

“It’s going to be fun,” Dominique Alexander said. “Bragging rights in the house, and just for the whole family, but we’re going to come out with the victory.”

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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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