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Whisenhunt wants to win now in 2nd time as coach

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt is the reason why safety Bernard Pollard agreed to return to Tennessee. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard did his research into the coach and learned enough that he signed with the Titans. Mike Mularkey waited and watched, hoping his old friend would choose the Titans.

Whisenhunt just wants to win in his second time as a head coach in the NFL — starting now.

“We’re not asking for patience,” Whisenhunt said. “We want to win, and we expect to win.”

Whisenhunt makes his debut Sunday at Kansas City, one of seven new coaches in the NFL and one of three in a second chance, along with Jim Caldwell in Detroit and Lovie Smith in Tampa Bay. Fired in Arizona after six seasons, Whisenhunt spent last season as coordinator with San Diego where the Chargers finished with the league’s fifth-best offense.

The second time around certainly smoothed the transition, and Whisenhunt credits a good coaching staff and working with general manager Ruston Webster, too.

“It’s easier from the standpoint of knowing what to expect, but it’s a fun job,” Whisenhunt said of his second chance. “I’m glad that I have this opportunity.”

When the Titans fired Mike Munchak, they edged out Detroit in January to hire Whisenhunt as their third coach in Tennessee and the 17th in franchise history.

Mularkey monitored the searches to see what team his old friend would choose. A former head coach himself with Buffalo and Jacksonville, Mularkey wanted Whisenhunt to pick a good organization with good people. He is happy now to be Whisenhunt’s tight ends coach.

“The second time, you’re not going to get caught off guard as much as you are the first time, especially that first year,” Mularkey said. “You know what to expect. You kind of know the answer before the question comes. Now he’s handled everything extremely well. He’s got a good supporting cast around him.”

Pollard, who came to the Titans after winning a Super Bowl ring with Baltimore, wanted more accountability and structure after his first season in Tennessee. Once Whisenhunt was hired, Pollard signed a two-year deal.

“The guy knows how to win,” Pollard said. “You check his resume, the guy knows how to win, and he’s a fun coach. When you look at him, you see like a hard person on the outside. At the same time, he just wants guys to be accountable and go out there knowing what they’re doing.”

That’s what Woodyard learned when he called a couple of friends, including San Diego receiver Eddie Royal. They told him Whisenhunt was a players’ coach who loves and understands people. Woodyard has found Whisenhunt lives up to his billing.

“He’s a smart coach and definitely knows a lot about the offense,” Woodyard said.

The Titans need that offensive touch. They haven’t reached the playoffs since 2008 and ranked 22nd in the NFL in total offense last season and 21st passing, averaging 218.5 yards per game. Jake Locker missed nine games last season, and Whisenhunt and his assistants have tinkered with the quarterback’s footwork and other techniques to help him throw better.

Locker completed 70 percent of his passes this preseason, and the Titans ranked in the top 10 in several offensive categories.

The real test starts Sunday with Whisenhunt calling the offensive plays.

Wide receiver Nate Washington, who was with Whisenhunt a couple seasons in Pittsburgh, can’t wait. Washington recalled Whisenhunt calling a double pass from Antwaan Randel El to Hines Ward in the Super Bowl and loves how the gutsy coach keeps defenses off guard with his play calling.

“He’ll throw some wrinkles in there that’ll kind of keep you on your heels,” Washington said early in training camp. “It kind of surprised me at opportunities he was giving guys to make some plays. There’s going to be some big plays made, a lot of opportunities for guys to go out and show this league what we’re about.”

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Online:

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

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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