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AD defends Troy’s Blakeney after 0-3 start

By WTOP Staff

JOHN ZENOR
AP Sports Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Troy Trojans are off to such a rough start that athletic director John Hartwell felt compelled to speak in defense of longtime coach Larry Blakeney this week.

The Trojans are 0-3 for the first time since 1982 and getting ready to face No. 13 Georgia on Saturday. It’s a huge step up from Championship Subdivision’s Abilene Christian, which rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to beat Troy 38-35 Saturday night. It was that program’s first win over an FBS-level team since a victory over UTEP in 1959.

Hartwell spoke out after receiving “a barrage of emails and texts and Twitter messages” from disgruntled fans. He also said he had lengthy discussions with Blakeney on Sunday. The next day he said he had “full confidence” in his coach after Blakeney’s weekly news conference.

“Larry didn’t all of a sudden forget how to coach overnight,” Hartwell said. “I mean, the guy has won a whole bunch of football games, and the guys on his staff have helped him win a bunch of football games. And we’ve got some very talented young men playing on our football team. Those guys are hurting, too. And it’s not a time to say woe is me and I don’t have this and I don’t have that.”

Blakeney is in his 24th season at Troy, where he led the Trojans to at least a share of five consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships. Since the last title in 2010, the Trojans have gone 14-25.

Only Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, in his 28th season, has been at his current program longer.

The Trojans haven’t started 0-3 since losing their first seven games in Charlie Bradshaw’s final season as coach 32 years ago.

The loss to Abilene Christian was a low point.

“I’m not an excuse guy,” said Blakeney, a former Auburn quarterback who is 175-107-1 at Troy. “If you want an excuse, you probably need to go somewhere else. All I know is I’m not happy. The kids are not happy. No one that cares about Troy is happy. That is something we have to deal with and move forward and try to rectify.

“The team we’re playing this week is probably not a team you want to think about rectifying.”

Blakeney’s contract runs through next season. The coach, who turns 67 on Sunday, has presided over Troy’s rise from Division II to FCS and finally to college football’s highest level in 2001.

His next win will tie him with Auburn’s Ralph “Shug” Jordan as the third-winningest coach in state history, behind Tuskegee’s Cleve Abbott (203) and Alabama’s Paul “Bear” Bryant (223).

A two-time Sun Belt coach of the year, Blakeney’s teams have been on the opposite end of the upset specials, with victories over Mississippi State, Missouri and Oklahoma State during his tenure.

Hartwell said it’s not a time “to start pointing fingers or to look at external factors.”

“What we’re doing is working to get better and win on a consistent basis as opposed to being divided and say, ‘If you don’t do this I’m pulling my support or not buying season tickets or anything like this,” said Hartwell, in his third year as Troy’s athletic director. “I have full confidence in Larry Blakeney.”

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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