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No. 6 Texas A&M gets chance to really prove itself

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) — Kenny Hill and sixth-ranked Texas A&M have started with the highest-scoring four-game stretch in school history.

The Aggies are 4-0 for the first time since 2006, winning each game by at least 24 points.

Now, the Aggies get a chance to really prove themselves, knowing there are still plenty of people not convinced by what Texas A&M has done already in the season after Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Johnny Manziel left early for the NFL.

“Everybody’s talking about how we haven’t played anybody yet, so now we’re going to start playing some SEC teams and we’ll get to show how good we are,” Hill said after the Aggies’ 58-6 win at overmatched SMU on Saturday. “We’re just going to keep playing the way we have been and prove to everybody that we can play.”

Texas A&M returns to North Texas next Saturday, playing Arkansas (3-1) about 25 miles west in Arlington, Texas, at the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL stadium where the national championship game for the first four-team College Football Playoff will be played in January.

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

After the Razorbacks, Texas A&M plays consecutive Saturdays against No. 14 Mississippi State, No. 10 Ole Miss and No. 3 Alabama — all SEC West teams still undefeated.

The Aggies opened this season with a 52-28 win at then-No. 9 South Carolina in Hill’s starting debut, a Thursday night game before most other teams had even played, but their other wins are against Lamar and 0-3 teams Rice and SMU. The Gamecocks have won their three games since, including against then-No. 6 Georgia.

Arkansas has outscored Nicholls State, Texas Tech and Northern Illinois by a combined 174-49 margin its last three games. The Aggies have won their last three games 169-19 and are scoring 55.3 points a game overall this year.

“We accomplished some things, but we’ve still got to improve,” Sumlin said. “We just got out and try to win. The more you win, the more things build every week. More important each game becomes.”

Against SMU, playing its home opener and first game since coach June Jones resigned Sept. 8, the Aggies piled up 633 total yards and scored on 10 of their 12 possessions.

After Hill’s first interception at Texas A&M, on his 150th career attempt, the Aggies scored five consecutive touchdowns. Trey Williams ran for two scores and Jeremy Tabuyo turned two short passes into touchdowns of 30 and 50 yards while becoming the ninth different receiver to get into the end zone.

The Aggies defense had eight sacks — one short of their total the first three games — and didn’t allow a first down until midway through the second quarter when it was already 31-0.

“It really started with the defense. The defense came out and played lights out,” said Hill, who completed 16 of 22 passes for 265 yards with two touchdowns.

Hill, who has thrown for 1,359 yards and 13 TDs this season, also turned a busted play into a Manziel-like run of 58 yards when he broke two tackles to set up another touchdown.

“Yeah, I don’t like doing that, but I can,” Hill said of that big run before addressing his overall play. “I think I’ve come along all right. I’ve had moments when I haven’t done too well, but I’ve had moments when I’ve done great. I think I just need to be more consistent.”

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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