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Chip Kelly-Jim Harbaugh rivalry moves to NFL

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Chip Kelly and Jim Harbaugh have been fierce competitors in college when Oregon and Stanford battled for West Coast supremacy.

They have been long-distance admirers of the way each can create mismatches through formations and play design. They have even been collaborators who have traded ideas on football philosophy.

The relationship that began when both arrived in the Pac-10 seven years ago reaches a new chapter Sunday when they meet for the first time as NFL head coaches when Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles (3-0) take on Harbaugh’s 49ers (1-2).

While their teams look different on the surface with Kelly using a fast-paced, spread attack that utilizes the entire width of the field compared to Harbaugh’s preferred power, running system, the fundamentals are quite similar.

“From an offensive standpoint, both teams start with the run game,” said Eagles tight end Zack Ertz, who played for Harbaugh at Stanford. “They use that to set up everything else.”

Kelly is known as an innovator, who bucks tradition when it comes to practices, nutrition and most of all offensive philosophy.

After battling with Kelly’s Oregon teams in college, Harbaugh sent offensive coordinator Greg Roman to Eugene, Oregon, to learn more about Kelly’s offense.

“It’s evolved,” Harbaugh said. “They’ve done some great things offensively. I see their fingerprints on the defense as well. You see a progression and consistently good football and great adjustments and sound schematics.”

Kelly returned the favor and visited the 49ers in 2012 during an off week for the Ducks in hopes of gleaning some insights unto Harbaugh’s approach.

“One thing about Jim, he’s won everywhere he’s been,” Kelly said. “He won when he was a player. He won when he was at the University of San Diego. He won when he was at Stanford. He’s obviously been very, very successful with the 49ers. He’s a competitor. He’s a grinder. He’s got a passion for this game, and his teams kind of reflect his personality.”

Here are some other things to watch when the 49ers host the Eagles:

TALE OF TWO HALVES: San Francisco and Philadelphia have been mirror opposites so far this season. The Niners have started fast and then wilted in the second half, outscoring opponents 59-16 in the first half only to have it reversed in the second when they have been beaten 52-3. The Eagles, on the other hand, have become the first team to start 3-0 after trailing by at least 10 points in each game. They’ve done it by outscoring the opponents 74-24 after halftime.

LIMPING LINE: A year after having remarkable stability on the offensive line with five players starting all 17 games, the Eagles line is in shambles early this season. The latest casualty is center Jason Kelce, who had sports hernia surgery this week. With All-Pro left guard Evan Mathis and backup right tackle Allen Barbre already hurt and starting right tackle Lane Johnson serving the final game of his four-game suspension, left tackle Jason Peters is the only player in his usual spot. Left guard Matt Tobin and center David Molk are set to make their first career starts and Dennis Kelly is moving from left guard to right guard, with Todd Herremans moving from right guard to tackle.

FLAG DAY: The 49ers have been done in by their own mistakes early this season, most notably with a league-worst 36 penalties through three games. A barrage of personal fouls did in San Francisco last week when late hits by Dan Skuta and Patrick Willis keyed Arizona’s go-ahead drive and calls against Anquan Boldin and Jonathan Martin ended a potential scoring drive that could have given the Niners the lead back.

“We’ll address it,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll work to fix things. There’s things that need to be fixed and have great confidence we’ll get them fixed.”

FANTASTIC FOLES: Philadelphia quarterback Nick Foles is proving last year’s breakthrough season was no fluke. Foles, who led the NFL in passer rating a year ago, is tops in yards passing this year with 978 through three games. Foles is looking to join Peyton Manning, Steve Young, Kurt Warner and Drew Brees as the only QBs to open the season with four straight 300-yard passing games.

WHERE’S GORE?: Frank Gore has been the staple of Harbaugh’s offense so it has been a bit of a surprise how infrequently he has been used this season. Gore has just 35 carries, including only six last week against Arizona, as the Niners have turned more of the offense over to quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

“Whatever works, I’m with it,” Gore said. “If it’s passing, it’s passing. If it’s running, we run it. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this story.

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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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