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Time to heed the ‘don’t kill Rooney’ advice again

By WTOP Staff

ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writer

LONDON (AP) — Don’t kill Wayne Rooney. It’s advice that is as pertinent now for English football as it was eight years ago when offered as Sven-Goran Eriksson’s last act as England coach.

When one of Eriksson’s successors, Roy Hodgson, announces his squad for next month’s European Championship qualifiers this week, questions over Rooney’s temperament will once again be raised.

One rash swing of the right boot at Stewart Downing on Saturday earned Rooney a straight red card while captaining Manchester United against West Ham on Saturday. The tackle was wild and needless, coming inside the West Ham half.

Reckless rather than malicious, even though it earns a three-match suspension for serious foul play, with no appeal being sought.

“I tried to trip him up,” Rooney offered by way of explanation. “As he pushed the ball away, my leg straightened out.”

Just six games into his captaincy it was seen by some as a throwback to the days when the striker was defined by his hot-headedness and his chances of winning the captain’s armband for club and country seemed as thin as his receding hairline. While it took a hair transplant to bring the follicles back to life, Rooney’s confidence and leadership abilities have developed with maturity.

When Nemanja Vidic left United in May, it was Rooney against Robin van Persie for the captaincy, and new manager Louis van Gaal overlooked his compatriot.

When Steven Gerrard retired from England duty after a woeful World Cup, the 28-year-old Rooney was Hodgson’s obvious choice as the most experienced and vocal member of a youthful squad.

“Baggage,” is how Hodgson described Rooney’s past indiscretions and flare-ups on international duty after being handed the honor, conceding: “He will have to accept that as a further part of the pressure.”

Before Saturday, Rooney had not been sent off since October 2011, when he kicked out at a Montenegro player during a Euro 2012 qualifier. The last United dismissal came two years before that, receiving a second booking and unleashing abuse at the referee, a habit that seems to have been eradicated from his game.

How many times was Vidic, the previous holder of the United armband, sent off in the Premier League? Twice last season alone, and six times in total across nine seasons.

Rooney has been dismissed just twice in 313 league appearances for United. Unfortunately for the former Everton prodigy, Saturday’s blip came while marking a decade since his United debut. At Old Trafford, Rooney couldn’t replicate his 2004 debut hat trick against Fenerbahce, but significantly he did score before the Downing kick and United did still collect just its second win in seven matches this season.

“I think everyone knew (I was in the wrong),” Rooney said. “So I am just grateful that the lads were able to hold on.”

Had United lost again, Rooney would undoubtedly have faced a far more hostile reaction from critics who resent him for earning 300,000 pounds ($487,000) a week.

The latest contract terms were agreed last year after Rooney agitated for a transfer unsuccessfully for a second time. However much those actions divided sections of the United fan base, Rooney will now surely end his career at Old Trafford as one of the club’s greats alongside Bobby Charlton, even if his conduct hasn’t always matched that of the gentleman of English football.

Rooney is just 31 goals from the 250-mark that would overhaul Charlton as United’s all-time leading scorer. The target to claim Charlton’s England record is 50 and he needs nine more goals. That could be achieved before the 2016 European Championship, with San Marino and Estonia, the weakest teams in England’s qualifying group, the opponents next month.

United will have to cope without Rooney for the entire month of October. A consequence of the early League Cup loss to lower-league MK Dons means the three-match suspension will be served entirely in the Premier League. The greatest beneficiary could be Juan Mata, the $60-million January signing who was demoted to the bench on Saturday, with Rooney not eligible until the Nov. 2 derby against Manchester City.

“It is tough,” Rooney said. “So I just have to make sure I train well and be ready for when I come back.”

And ensure he remains as contrite as he is now.

“Don’t kill him, I beg you,” Eriksson said after Rooney was sent off as England exited the 2006 World Cup. “He is a fantastic player.”

___

Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris

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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