Skip to main content

Defense sparks Arkansas’ latest blowout win

By WTOP Staff

KURT VOIGT
AP Sports Writer

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Bret Bielema was concerned about how Arkansas defensive tackle Darius Philon might react after his fumble return for a touchdown against Northern Illinois.

The Razorbacks coach could be forgiven for not knowing exactly how the Mobile, Alabama, native might celebrate his score. Game-changing defensive plays have been few and far between the last few years at Arkansas.

“I was a little scared he might break into a little Alabama shuffle over there,” Bielema said. “He is an entertaining player who was really into it.”

Philon, who put the Razorbacks (3-1) up 14-0 in the first quarter with his 14-yard scoop and score, managed to hold his emotions in check following his first career touchdown.

The rest of Arkansas, however, is anything but calm after a third straight blowout win — this one a 52-14 thrashing of the overmatched Huskies, who entered the game with a nation-best 17-game road winning streak.

For a team in despair only a few weeks ago, the Razorbacks have emerged as one of the Southeastern Conference’s biggest surprises so far this season. They’ve outscored their last three opponents by a combined score of 174-49 and look anything but like a team that’s lost 13 straight SEC games and was picked to finish last in the West Division this season.

The optimism surrounding the program is a welcome change for Bielema and his players, many of whom have suffered through a 7-17 stretch over the two seasons following the scandal of former coach Bobby Petrino.

They also hope their recent winning ways, on the heels of a school-worst 10-game losing streak, is a sign of things to come — beginning this week against No. 6 Texas A&M in Arlington, Texas.

“I think the guys are confident,” Bielema said. “By no means have they arrived in any way, shape or form. But I think they have a certain mentality and an attitude that has not been here since I’ve been here, and it’s getting better and better every day.”

The Razorbacks were 12th in the SEC in scoring defense last season, allowing 30.8 points per game while losing their last nine games of the season.

Against the Huskies, Philon’s touchdown continued a trend of defensive relevance this season. Arkansas held Northern Illinois, which entered the week seventh in the nation in rushing offense with an average of 325.3 yards per game, to 123 yards on the ground. The performance followed a week where the Razorbacks frustrated Texas Tech’s Air Raid offense with several key pass breakups on the way to a 49-28 win.

Senior defensive end Trey Flowers led Arkansas’ defense on Saturday, making a team-high nine tackles. Flowers was projected as a third-round draft pick in the NFL Draft after last season, but he decided to return — a move that paid off Saturday as he made a pair of tackles for lost yardage.

That included the sack of Northern Illinois quarterback Drew Hare that led to Philon’s fumble recovery and touchdown — and Bielema’s dance moniker.

“I don’t know what coach (Bielema) is talking about, but I appreciate him giving me a dance move that I’ve never heard of,” Philon joked.

In addition to the defensive improvement, Arkansas is second in the SEC in scoring offense with an average of 48.8 points per game this season.

That’s second in the conference only to the Aggies’ 55.3 points per game, and Bielema isn’t about to let the Razorbacks let down their guard this week.

“My role as a humbler has got to be increased this week,” Bielema said. “… Because you guys and everybody, all the girls and moms and dads will tell them how good they are.”

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
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote