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Rams could get Austin, Hill back after bye

By WTOP Staff

R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Tavon Austin could return to the St. Louis Rams lineup after the bye week.

Perhaps Shaun Hill, too.

The Rams (1-2) can use the help given the struggles on defense.

Though Austin Davis has had two interceptions returned for touchdowns, they’ve given up 34 points twice.

Both Austin and Hill got work in the first of two practices Wednesday. Austin was wearing a brace to stabilize the right knee injury that sidelined him last week.

“We’re going to see how it goes, but so far I’ve made a lot of progress,” Austin said. “I keep being positive that I’ll bounce back.”

Coach Jeff Fisher maintains the 34-year-old Hill is his starter if healthy, and Hill believes he’s closer to being ready for the Oct. 5 game at Philadelphia.

“I feel good,” Hill said. “My expectations are to be ready any week, that’s just the mind-set I always take. If it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.”

Fisher described players working through a “fussy” stage reviewing video of their collapse against the Cowboys before getting their minds straight. Dallas rallied from a 21-0 deficit to win 34-31.

“They got back, we had a really good session,” Fisher said. “We’re looking at some things that we need to do better.”

After one more practice, the coach encourages them to escape.

“Once we finish up here tomorrow, it’s about getting away from football,” Fisher said. “Go back to your alma mater, watch the game, do something, but get away.”

Many players planned on sticking around during a break that serves as a pause button and allows time to reflect on a disappointing start. They’ll be gearing up for the 13-week grind to follow, too.

Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said there’s no satisfaction in succeeding on defense, except for the handful of plays that got the team beat.

“You can’t keep coming in on a Monday being like ‘Man, if we eliminate those four or five plays then guess what, they only have X amount of yards and this and this,'” Laurinaitis said. “Those four or five plays make a difference.”

Hill hasn’t played the past two games with a left quadriceps injury, but has felt good enough in both to be the backup.

If he’s ready for next week, Fisher might have to make a tough choice.

Hill said the team made the right call in taking him out at halftime of the opening loss to the Vikings.

On his last pass, an interception that led to a touchdown, Hill was trying to throw it out of bounds. He said he’d been injured a few plays earlier on a bootleg that was called back.

“Honestly, you try to fight through things especially in the position that I’m in,” Hill said. “Somebody else has to get you out of the game.

“I wasn’t going to be able to help the team out there.”

Hill totaled just 16 passes as the backup in Detroit in the three previous seasons. He took over after Sam Bradford’s season-ending knee injury in the third preseason week and the opener was his first start since 2010.

Fisher is getting other players into the mix this week including running back Tre Mason, a third-round pick who hasn’t played yet due to pass blocking issues. Fisher said Mason was doing a “nice job” on special teams.

Earlier this week, Fisher said cornerback Trumaine Johnson could return from a knee injury sustained in the preseason. But Johnson didn’t practice Wednesday.

___

AP NFL websites: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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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