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Buccaneers’ Glennon gets chance vs. Steelers

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Mike Glennon is getting another opportunity to prove he is Tampa Bay’s quarterback of the future.

With starter Josh McCown unlikely to play this week against Pittsburgh, the second-year backup practiced with the No. 1 offense Wednesday in preparation for the Steelers.

It’s the second straight season Glennon has been thrust into the starting lineup following an 0-3 start, although the circumstances are different this time.

McCown sprained the thumb on his throwing hand during last Thursday’s 56-14 loss at Atlanta. As a rookie a year ago, Glennon came off the bench after Josh Freeman struggled and fell out of favor with former coach Greg Schiano.

“It’s always a huge opportunity when you get to play a game in the NFL,” said Glennon, who started 13 games as a rookie, going 4-9 while completing 59 percent of his passes for 2,608 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

“I didn’t know what to expect then. I know what it’s like to play now,” the 6-foot-6, 225-pound quarterback added of the difference between this time a year ago and now. “I’m a lot more confident, a lot more comfortable.”

As usual, coach Lovie Smith had little to say about injuries and possible lineup changes, including who will lead the offense against Pittsburgh (2-1).

“It’s a good chance it will be Mike Glennon. Josh is improving,” the coach said. “I like to stay with my standard way of doing things, not talking about starting lineups for the opponent. But Mike took the reps today. How’s that?”

Glennon relieved McCown late in the second quarter against the Falcons, completing 17 of 24 passes for 121 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Atlanta sacked him once.

Smith, who replaced Schiano in January and two months later signed McCown to a two-year, $10 million contract in free agency, felt Glennon played well considering the young backup didn’t work with the starting lineup during a short week of preparation leading up to last Thursday’s game.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin also likes what he’s seen of the 2013 third-round draft pick, who a year ago became the first rookie in NFL history to throw for a touchdown in his first eight starts.

“I’m just starting to familiarize myself with him. … We’ve got to respect those 13 games he started a year ago. I’m sure it’s going to serve him well as he moves forward,” Tomlin said. “I’m sure he’s excited about playing. I’m sure he’s got a different perspective on this opportunity” after losing the starting job at the end of 2013.

Glennon was disappointed when McCown, a career backup coming off his best pro season in Chicago, was signed and immediately named the starter.

But instead of sulking or complaining, he quietly went about his business in the offseason, training camp and first three weeks of the regular season.

“Mike is not fazed by much. He’s just going to stay the course and do what he has to do,” team captain Gerald McCoy said.

“He went through a storm last year. A lot of rookies, they get thrown in on opening day, so you have a chance to start from the beginning,” McCoy added. “He got thrown into a circus.”

Indeed, Glennon was pressed into action as a rookie after Freeman, a first-round draft pick in 2009, was benched after a tumultuous preseason and slow start that set the tone for the Bucs missing the playoffs for the sixth straight season.

With Glennon running the offense, the Bucs finished 30th in scoring and dead last in passing and total yardage.

“I’m just focused on getting our first win. That’s where my mind-set is at, to go out there and get a win and help the team any way I can,” the 24-year-old quarterback said, adding there’s not much difference in the circumstances of his moving into the lineup.

He said, “0-3 is 0-3, however you look at it. My mind-set last year and my mind-set this year is to stay the course and get that first tin. Once you get that first win, things kind of get rolling.”

Tampa Bay lost eight in a row to begin 2013, won four of five, then finished on a three-game losing streak that led to the firing of Schiano and former general manager Mark Dominik.

Smith believes playing behind McCown and being around the 12th-year pro in the offseason and training camp has aided Glennon’s development.

“What I’ve seen is a team player, a veteran on how he’s handled the situation. Mike comes to work every day preparing,” Smith said. “This has only helped him and prepare him for this situation. He’s ready to go.”

___

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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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