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Te’o ‘frustrated and devastated’ with foot injury

By WTOP Staff

BERNIE WILSON
AP Sports Writer

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Chargers inside linebacker Manti Te’o says he’s “frustrated and devastated” with a third foot injury in 13 months.

Te’o sustained a fractured right foot in Sunday’s 22-10 victory at Buffalo and is out indefinitely.

Te’o and the team are declining to reveal much information, but club spokesman Bill Johnston said Wednesday that it’s a different injury than the one Te’o suffered in the first exhibition game of his rookie season in 2013. Te’o missed the first three games of 2013 with a foot injury and had surgery in the offseason.

He sprained his left foot during training camp.

Asked if it’s a chronic problem, Te’o said: “I don’t know, bro. I don’t know.”

Three days after the injury, Te’o said “we’re not really sure yet” what specifically is wrong.

Te’o, who is tied for second on the team with 17 tackles, wasn’t sure when or how he got hurt.

“Throughout the game you really don’t know. The adrenaline is rushing and you’re just going as hard as you can and after the game you feel all the nicks,” he said.

Te’o said he had X-rays at the stadium, but they didn’t reveal anything. “We thought it was OK,” he said.

The former Notre Dame star doesn’t know if he’ll need surgery, but said he intends to be back this season.

“It’s definitely frustrating for me,” Te’o said. “I felt that I’m just getting started. I was starting to feel comfortable and starting to have a level of comfort there where I was able to go out there and make plays and be out there with the team.

“But when I heard the news it was definitely frustrating and devastating for me that I couldn’t be out there with my guys.”

Te’o said he’s trying to keep it in perspective that other people elsewhere have more serious issues.

“I chose to stay positive and chose to know that in a few of weeks I’ll be OK. In a few weeks I’ll be running around with the fellas and running around with the bros and playing high-quality football,” he said.

Coach Mike McCoy refused to be specific about Te’o’s injury.

“He’ll be back on the field when he’s healthy. He’s week-to-week right now. He was sore after the game and after running tests on Monday we diagnosed it the way it is,” the coach said.

Asked if it’s a stress fracture, McCoy said: “He’ll be week-to-week. He has a foot injury. I’m not a doctor.”

Did Te’o have surgery?

“He has a foot injury and he’ll be out there when he’s ready to go. Thank you,” McCoy said.

Asked if Te’o has a chronic foot problem, McCoy replied: “You’d have to ask a professional about that. I don’t have enough knowledge about the history of all those things and things like that.”

Asked if a member of the Chargers’ medical staff could provide information, the coach said: “You’ll have to call somebody.”

The Chargers don’t let members of their medical staff speak with the media.

Te’o has settled into life in the NFL after enduring the glare of publicity following the revelation he’d gotten fooled by a hoax involving a fake girlfriend while at Notre Dame.

He also had a poor showing in Notre Dame’s BCS championship game loss to Alabama following the 2012 season.

The Chargers (2-1) host Jacksonville (0-3) on Sunday.

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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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