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Jets QB Smith shows poise when facing adversity

By WTOP Staff

DENNIS WASZAK Jr.
AP Sports Writer

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — The New York Jets had just seen a tying touchdown erased from the scoreboard by an ill-timed timeout call when Geno Smith and the offense huddled up again.

There was no whining about what could have been. No frustration from the quarterback, either.

The Jets still needed to convert a fourth-down play to give themselves a chance against the Green Bay Packers. The game was on the line, and Smith was as cool and calm as ever.

“He wasn’t worried about that play,” wide receiver Jeremy Kerley said Wednesday. “He was worried about the next play. That showed a lot of character on his part.”

So, the second-year quarterback went right back to work and converted on fourth down — again — with a 6-yard pass to David Nelson on fourth-and-4 from the Packers 36. The drive was still alive, and so were the Jets.

“That right there was a really good test,” Kerley said. “I think the big transformation between Geno from last year to this year is his poise. He has definitely shown to be, not necessarily a different guy, but his poise is definitely starting to show.

“That’s one thing I pride him on and I think it’s going to carry this team.”

The Jets’ drive stalled after that conversion and the Packers ran out the clock to hang on for a 31-24 victory. It was a frustrating end to a game in which the Jets held an 18-point lead at one point, but Smith had them in position to tie it in the final moments.

Small consolation, as far as he is concerned.

“The fact that we went back out there and got the fourth down, that’s a positive thing,” Smith said. “We’re still fighting, but we should’ve scored. My opinion, we should’ve scored. We should’ve went down on that drive and tied it up, but we didn’t. Hats off to Green Bay, but that’s over with.

“We’ve got the Bears coming up and we’ll be ready for them.”

It took a lot for Smith to get to that point, though. After the loss — on the flight home, the next day reviewing film and the days before finally getting back on the field Wednesday — the missed opportunities ate away at him.

“It took me until today’s practice,” he said. “I was (ticked) off for about two days, so today’s practice allowed me to flush that out of my system and just get back to playing football.”

Smith prides himself on being able to put mistakes and losses behind him quickly, pushing forward to the next challenge. This time, though, was different.

“We lost,” he said. “Anytime you lose, I hate losing. That’s really what happened. I was pretty upset about it.”

He finished 16 of 32 for 176 yards, including a touchdown pass to Eric Decker, and also ran for a score. Smith also threw an interception that wasn’t entirely his fault near the goal line before halftime, a wobbly toss that came as he was hit in his legs. He missed a few receivers who were wide open at times.

Smith remains a work in progress, a quarterback who flashes at times with terrific plays that make the Jets believe they might have something special.

There was a third-and-6 play in the third quarter when Smith spun out of what appeared to be a sure sack, found running back Bilal Powell open and flipped him the ball for a 20-yard gain. It led to a tying field goal, and was another example of a quarterback refusing to panic even when the pocket is collapsing around him.

“Last week, I learned that we’re a pretty tough team,” Smith said. “We’re pretty disciplined. We went in on the road, had a bunch of silent counts, went no huddle and the communication was great. For the most part, we played a clean game, but just didn’t come away with enough big plays to win the game.

“We’re still growing.”

Just like their quarterback. And after two games, there have been mistakes, of course. But Smith is showing he’s in command as he continues to make progress.

“He just doesn’t get rattled,” Kerley said. “We all see that.”

NOTES: Jets coach Rex Ryan dismissed the notion that WR Santonio Holmes, now with the Bears, was a divisive presence in the New York locker room. “I never thought he was a bad teammate,” Ryan said. “I absolutely did not think that. I thought he played hard. He tried to mentor some of the younger receivers and the dude won a lot of games for us. He played well for us.” … With 18 penalties in two games, Muhammad Wilkerson getting ejected for fighting against the Packers and the timeout fiasco, some have wondered if the Jets are an undisciplined team. “No, not at all,” Ryan insisted. “Has it been perfect? Absolutely not. And that’s the thing that we talk about, trying to get better, and maybe there’s other areas that we can get better at. Clearly we’re going to go for it. We’re trying to become an outstanding football team.”

___

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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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