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Texans improved, but want to be better

By WTOP Staff

KRISTIE RIEKEN
AP Sports Writer

HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans have already won more games than they did in last year’s dreadful 2-14 season.

While they’re happy with their 3-1 start, they’re still looking to do much more, especially with a matchup with in-state rival Dallas coming up Sunday.

“We have a lot of things that we want to make sure that we continue to improve upon,” defensive end J.J. Watt said. “We have some other things that we want to really get going. There is always things, even that you do well, that you want to make sure you continue to do better.”

Watt was chosen AFC defensive player of the week on Wednesday. Watt led the way in Houston’s 23-17 win over Buffalo on Sunday with an 80-yard interception return for a touchdown, five tackles and a career-high nine hits on quarterback E.J. Manuel. His interception return was the longest by a defensive lineman in more than 15 years.

Watt, who started his college career as a tight end before moving to defense, has two touchdowns this year after also grabbing a TD pass in Week 2.

But, as usual, the overachiever isn’t satisfied.

“Every single day is a new challenge,” he said. “It’s a lot of fun. That’s what makes it so fun. Every day you come in and you find something new to work on.”

Watt’s big game helped make up for a tough day by the offense. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two interceptions and the team managed a season-low 37 yards rushing.

“We have yet to play even close to our best football, especially as an offense,” left tackle Duane Brown said. “We feel like our defense has really played its tail off and we have to match that, and I think once we’re firing on all cylinders we’ll be a great team and we’ll be hard to stop.”

Even though the Texans are looking to up their game, they’re also encouraged they’ve been able to get out to such a good start despite struggling in several areas.

“Without a doubt, but you can’t hang your hat on that,” cornerback Johnathan Joseph said. “Because if you don’t fix those problems, somewhere down the line it will come back to haunt you and cost you a game.”

Fitzpatrick, in his first year in Houston, has struggled the past two weeks after a solid start this season. His five interceptions have all come in the last two games and are tied for most in the league. Coach Bill O’Brien has talked often about putting Fitzpatrick in better positions to be successful, but the quarterback won’t place blame for his trouble on anyone but himself.

“I’ve got to get a lot better,” he said. “Every week it’s almost like a broken record, but the consistency, it’s just got to get better … if I look at the first four games and how they’ve gone, we’re 3-1 and that’s not too bad, but my level of play has got to pick up.”

This week he’ll face a Dallas defense that is allowing more than 271 yards passing a game, seventh most in the league. But the group picked off Drew Brees once in a 38-17 win over Saints last week, and the Cowboys also recovered two fumbles in the victory.

“They’ve created a bunch of turnovers,” Fitzpatrick said. “They’ve been an opportunistic defense this year. You really see them flying around and playing fast (and) that jumps out at you when you watch the tape.”

___

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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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