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Sumlin looks for more from No. 7 Texas A&M

By WTOP Staff

KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — No. 7 Texas A&M has won its first two games by a combined 125-31. That isn’t good enough for coach Kevin Sumlin.

Ever the perfectionist, Sumlin noted things his team could do better again and again after a 73-3 trouncing of Lamar on Saturday night.

“I told them after the game: ‘That wasn’t our best football. We could play better,'” he said. “We left some things on the table. We had some penalties that were needless. Turnovers.”

He believes those are errors that his team won’t be able to get away with if the Aggies want to keep pace once they return to Southeastern Conference play on Sept. 27 against Arkansas.

“We didn’t win the turnover battle and that can come back to haunt you against other competition,” he said. “There are some things that we need to work on.”

Texas A&M had four penalties for 45 yards and three turnovers on Saturday night.

Sumlin also had some individual criticism for a pair of true freshmen, Speedy Noil and Myles Garrett, who played big roles in Saturday night’s game. Noil, a receiver and returner, had 71 yards receiving, a punt return for 67 yards and a kickoff return for 53 yards to finish with 191 all-purpose yards.

But Sumlin was unhappy with how his punt return ended.

“I got on him a little bit,” Sumlin said. “He made some electric plays but I told him: ‘We didn’t bring you here to fall down at the 4-yard line.’ So he was a little upset by that.”

Garrett had five tackles, two sacks and two QB hurries. The Lamar offensive line couldn’t do much to slow down the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Garrett, who was rated as the top high school defensive end in the nation last season. He has three sacks this season.

But as with Noil, Sumlin pointed out how he could be better.

“I bet he probably missed three or four,” Sumlin said when asked about Garrett’s sacks. “Those guys aren’t going to stand there like in high school. He’s not sneaking up on anyone anymore. People are turning protections to him and trying to block him. So it’s a learning experience for him.”

Kenny Hill had another strong performance in his second game since taking over for 2102 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, throwing for four touchdowns in less than three quarters.

The blowout allowed Sumlin to play freshman quarterback Kyle Allen. Hill beat out the heralded recruit in camp for the job. He threw for 122 yards with an interception and two touchdowns.

Sumlin likes that the competition between the two has allowed both quarterbacks to get better.

“They both deserve to play and they’re comfortable,” Sumlin said. “Kenny’s probably a little bit more comfortable because he’s played more. Kyle got better as the game went on. They congratulated each other … the competition there is good, but the enthusiasm for each other’s success on this team is genuine.”

The Aggies host Rice on Saturday before three straight road games against SMU, Arkansas and Mississippi State. Texas A&M is looking forward to another week at home to work on things before going on the road.

Sumlin hopes the experience in a friendly environment will help his young players prepare for tougher competition.

“We’re going to need that valuable experience in this league because it’s long season,” he said. “The more that those guys can play, the more confidence they get and we also get in them.”

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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