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No. 6 Texas A&M rolls 58-6 over June-less SMU

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Kenny Hill thrilled for only one half, speedy receiver Jeremy Tabuyo turned two short passes near the sideline into long touchdowns, and sixth-ranked Texas A&M had a nice warmup in North Texas.

The Aggies’ return to the area next week isn’t likely to be as easy as their 58-6 victory Saturday against SMU, which was playing its home opener after coach June Jones resigned.

“We’ll know a lot more about us next week,” coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We’ll see next week. Big-time atmosphere.”

Texas A&M is 4-0 for the first time since 2006 after Hill accounted for 322 yards of offense and a 38-3 halftime lead in the first of consecutive games by the Aggies in the Dallas area.

Next Saturday, they will play about 25 miles west in Arlington, Texas, for a neutral-site SEC game against Arkansas at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, where the national championship game will be played in January.

Among the positives from the SMU game for Sumlin: “Getting through the game without some starters, keeping them fresh.”

SMU (0-3) played for the first time since Jones resigned Sept. 8, two days after the second game of his seventh season on The Hilltop. SMU’s only score those first two weeks came on what turned out to be his final play as coach, a 33-yard touchdown pass in a 43-6 loss at North Texas.

In defensive coordinator Tom Mason’s first game as interim head coach, the Mustangs managed only two field goals by Cody Rademacher (29 and 37 yards), had 241 total yards while giving up eight sacks and used their fourth quarterback already this season.

“I’ve got to get these kids back and get them confident,” Mason said. “We’ve got some good kids. I think these kids will respond.”

Garrett Krstich, the junior quarterback who replaced ineffective first-time starter Kolney Cassel in the second quarter, felt as though the Mustangs got a little better. But he knows they must “get a lot better to compete.”

Hill, the sensational sophomore who succeeded 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel as Texas A&M’s starter, completed 16 of 22 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns and his first career interception. He also ran for 57 yards — a big 58-yard play and a 1-yard loss.

The first touchdown pass for Hill came on a short pass that Tabuyo caught near the sideline. He managed to stay in bounds before weaving through defenders, including two that ran into each other after he got by for a 30-yard score.

On his only other catch of the game, Tabuyo turned a short pass from freshman quarterback Kyle Allen into a 50-yard score in the third quarter. The sophomore from Honolulu again caught the ball along the right sideline near defenders before breaking free.

“Jeremy, he’ll be in my office Monday morning, wanting to start,” Sumlin said. “Two catches, what did you have, 80 yards and two touchdowns? Kind of hard to argue with him.”

Trey Williams had a pair of touchdown runs (8 and 5 yards) in the first half, and Brandon Williams added a 10-yard score for the Aggies, who had 663 total yards. Allen finished 8-of-15 passing for 130 yards.

There was also a nice save by a Texas A&M cadet late in the first half after SMU receiver Der’rikk Thompson was bumped on an incomplete pass near the sideline, and his momentum sent him toward Reveille VIII, the Aggies’ live mascot. But a cadet stepped in front of the collie and kept Thompson from running into her.

Hill threw an interception on Texas A&M’s second possession, his first in 150 career attempts — 128 this season.

“It was a miscommunication, mostly on my part,” Hill said.

The Mustangs then went three-and-out, and on the next drive Hill turned a broken play into a big run. Hill followed Williams through a hole and broke several tackles for a 58-yard gain, setting up Williams’ 8-yard TD run.

SMU starter Neal Burcham’s season ended after he injured his right elbow in the last game. Cassel started Saturday and was 1 for 5 for 2 yards with three sacks before going to the bench. Krstich was then sacked five times while completing 13 of 24 passes for 137 yards.

“That’s not the kind of performance we want to display. I think we got a little better today. We did move the ball a little bit,” Krstich said. “We’re excited moving forward. Don’t count us out.”

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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