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No. 7 Baylor line hasn’t allowed a sack this year

By WTOP Staff

STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer

Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty never feels too much pressure when he drops back to pass. Not with that standout offensive line in front of him.

Petty hasn’t been sacked this season. Neither has backup Seth Russell or Chris Johnson, the other quarterbacks who have thrown passes for the seventh-ranked Bears (4-0, 1-0 Big 12).

“It means that I can pretty much sit back there and make a picnic,” Petty said. “Two, it means I have to make a lot of cookies and desserts. … I haven’t gotten touched since we’ve started, and they’re very aware of that and let me know that.”

That Baylor line is a perfect 0 for 162, not allowing a sack even with the Bears averaging just more than 40 pass attempts a game. New Mexico State is the only other FBS team that hasn’t given up a sack.

Right tackle Troy Baker said that is the goal every time they are on the field, but that the line’s objective in pass protection is more than just preventing sacks.

“We’re trying to make sure there’s no QB hurries and that Bryce doesn’t get touched,” Baker said. “Sacks are kind of the last one of those three (goals). He can still get hurried, and it can negatively affect the play. So, our goal is for him to be as calm as possible back there, just so he can drop dimes. Bryce takes great care of us.”

The front line in the nation’s top offense will get quite a test Saturday at Texas (2-2, 1-0). The Longhorns have 17 sacks, with a dozen of those coming from tackles or ends. They rank second in the Big 12, right behind the 18 sacks by Baylor’s defense.

“They’re going to have a good week this week,” Petty said of his offensive line. “I’m excited to see the challenge that they’re about to face with their front four from Texas. … It’s going be a lot of challenges all over the field, it is what you play for.”

Petty, the Big 12 offensive player of the year when the Bears won their first league title last season, has completed 66 of 101 passes in his three games as a senior. Russell is 33-of-57 passing as the only quarterback who has played in every game — starting the one Petty missed because of two small cracked bones in his back after getting hit on a read-option run in the opener. Both have seven touchdown passes with one interception.

Johnson, the freshman, has completed all four of his attempts. Opposing defenses have been credited with only eight quarterback hurries against the Bears’ QB trio.

Along with zero sacks while passing for 401.2 yards per game, only a half-yard behind West Virginia for the Big 12 lead, the Bears are the league’s top rushing offense with 240 yards per game and 18 touchdowns.

“The offense is fun and explosive,” left tackle Spencer Drango said. “It’s fun to be a part of that show.”

In a 49-28 win last Saturday at Iowa State, Baylor threw 50 passes and had 47 rushes for 244 yards with six TD runs, two of them by Petty.

“They get the ball out awfully fast, so sometimes you couldn’t sack ’em with nobody blocking,” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads said. “They’re massive people up front, and they do a nice job of faking the run game, and then executing the run game to help buy them time as well, and maybe keep you on your heels a little bit, or not as aggressive.”

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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