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49ers opener has special meaning for Crabtree

By WTOP Staff

JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Michael Crabtree hawked bags of popcorn and hot dogs in the stands at old Texas Stadium as a boy.

The star wide receiver who worked concessions at Dallas games beginning at age 6 and who considered himself pretty good at it, will go home this weekend to face the Cowboys in a season opener that takes on even more meaning.

He has purchased 70 tickets for his family members to attend Sunday’s game.

“I think my family’s more excited than I am,” Crabtree said Thursday. “Going back from selling popcorn and hot dogs in the stands for the Cowboys and being able to play them, that’s a big change.”

The 49ers’ 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, Crabtree returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a calf issue. There’s no way he is missing this one, especially after he was sidelined for the first 11 games last season recovering from a torn right Achilles tendon.

Crabtree, who turns 27 on Sept. 14, has waited six seasons for his first NFL game back home in Dallas.

“That’s where he’s from,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “It’s definitely a big deal to him.”

If he can stay healthy, Crabtree hopes to put together a season much like his breakout year in 2012.

Crabtree emerged as Colin Kaepernick’s top target that year and had career bests of 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. They quickly found their rhythm again when the wideout came back last December, and hope to pick up where they left off.

He tore his right Achilles tendon during 7-on-7 drills in an organized team activity on May 21, 2013, then had surgery. Crabtree impressed everybody with not only his remarkable return but his productivity without a drop-off despite the rigors of rehab.

“He’s ready to go,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman said. “He’s a true professional. Mike played last year when he came back in a tough situation for some. He went out, gutted it out and helped us win a lot of football games. And that’s what we’re looking forward to this year.”

Place kicker Phil Dawson also grew up in Dallas. He will be reunited with his wife and three children, who live in Texas during the school year while he is in the Bay Area.

He can imagine Crabtree’s motivation this week.

“It’s awesome. Week 1’s exciting anyway, any way you slice it, but especially when you go home to your hometown. Obviously, you always want to play well. I’m sure he’ll be geeked up, as well as the rest of us who are from Texas,” said the 39-year-old Dawson, who purchased 50 tickets for his first game back in Dallas but now leaves everybody to buy their own.

While there has been talk of a contract extension for Crabtree, he’s not touching that subject with the season underway.

“All I think about is football. I don’t worry about all that. I’ll let it handle itself,” he said. “I wish I could talk to you about the contract but I can’t.”

He has no problem talking about all his old favorite Cowboys: Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin, Alvin Harper. He sees some of each of those stars in his game and approach.

“I’m pretty much myself,” he said. “You can get little things from guys, some similarities. If you see me going up on a jump ball, I would say I’m like Alvin Harper. If you see me in the middle catching a ball, I’d say I’m more like Michael Irvin. Those guys are great.”

Crabtree reminded everyone he will be in town for an NFL game, not a reunion, and must stay focused on work first. And he won’t have time to reflect too much on his days in the stands with his youth football teammates. He brought home autographs, towels and more.

“I was the only little league player with NFL gear on,” he said.

Notes: DT Ray McDonald practiced for the second straight day, though he was tardy again. McDonald was arrested Sunday for investigation of felony domestic violence. The team hasn’t said whether he will play Sunday, though both Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke have said they will let the legal process play out. … Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Michael Wilhoite will start at LB and the CBs will be Tramaine Brock and Chris Culliver, with rookie Jimmie Ward in the nickel spot.

___

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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