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TCU chance to get into offensive rhythm vs. SMU

By WTOP Staff

DALLAS (AP) — TCU is ready for a chance to get into a rhythm with its new offense.

The pattern so far for the Horned Frogs (2-0) has been play a game, have an off week, play a game, have another off week. That changes over the next eight Saturdays, starting this week at SMU (0-3) in the Dallas-Fort Worth rivalry known as the Battle for the Iron Skillet.

“Now we’ll get an opportunity to just go out there and keep playing, and try to keep the momentum,” running back B.J. Catalon said. “Keep going out there and seeing what the new offense has for us.”

Coach Gary Patterson knows it will “help the offense to play every seven days.”

In their first two games with new co-offensive coordinators and their version of a faster-paced spread offense, the Frogs have scored 78 points and piled up 982 total yards.

They are a nearly five-touchdown favorite on the road against SMU, which has managed only 195 yards per game and scored only 12 total points, both worst among FBS teams. There was a touchdown on the final play at North Texas, what ended up being June Jones’ last as the Mustangs coach, and two field goals last week in 58-6 home loss to sixth-ranked Texas A&M that was defensive coordinator Tom Mason’s first game as interim coach.

Plus, the Mustangs are already on their fourth quarterback this season.

Garrett Krstich, who took over for ineffective replacement starter Kolney Cassel in the second quarter against Texas A&M, is a junior walk-on who is expected to get his first career start against the Frogs. Krstich completed 13 of 24 passes for 137 yards with no interceptions against the Aggies.

Mason told Dan Morrison, the associate head coach and quarterbacks coach now serving as a co-offensive coordinator, “that we have to go with who is playing the best. I don’t care if he’s a walk-on. I don’t care if he was fourth string going into fall camp. To me, quarterback is like any other position. You play the guy that’s playing the best right now. Right now, he’s playing the best.”

Here are a few other things to know when the former Southwest Conference rivals meet for the 94th time:

GOOD FIT: Quarterback Trevone Boykin has thrown for 289 yards per game with four touchdowns, and is also the Frogs’ top rusher with 61 yards per game. Catalon said the new offense “fits (Boykin) perfectly. … When it comes to him using his feet, he will always be able to do that, so I feel like this offense really helps him out and just gives him an opportunity to spread the ball around. Really, it’s just like he’s out there playing catch. He’s having fun.”

STRUGGLING ON D TOO: While the offense struggles to score and move the ball, the Mustangs defense is giving up a lot of points and yards. SMU opponents are averaging 49 points and 530 total yards a game. They have faced two of the nation’s best offenses in Top 10 teams Baylor and Texas A&M, but even allowed North Texas to pile up 43 points.

SKILLET HOME: The Iron Skillet trophy that goes to the winner of this game has spent a lot of time in Fort Worth on the TCU campus. The Frogs have won six of the last seven games in the series, and 12 of the last 14.

CONFERENCE AHEAD: This is the final non-conference game for both teams. After playing the Mustangs, TCU jumps into its Big 12 schedule with three consecutive games against ranked teams — No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 7 Baylor and No. 24 Oklahoma State. SMU plays its conference opener Oct. 4 at East Carolina.

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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