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Browns show off dance moves after historic win

By WTOP Staff

TOM WITHERS
AP Sports Writer

BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Brian Hoyer turned his baseball cap around backward and cut loose, footloose.

Caught up in the celebration after the Browns made NFL history on Sunday by overcoming a 25-point deficit to win at Tennessee, Cleveland’s comeback quarterback busted out some dance moves in the middle of Cleveland’s delirious locker room.

Hoyer knew he was being videotaped. He knew he looked foolish.

He didn’t mind one bit.

“I almost just blacked out,” Hoyer said. “I was so excited. I was just trying to copy what everyone else was doing. For me, everything I’ve gone through the past year, I want to enjoy it. I want to go out and have fun. You never know when it’s going to be taken away from you.”

“To celebrate a victory with my teammates, I don’t care how goofy I look,” he said.

After the Browns (2-2) pulled off the largest comeback for a road team, scoring 26 unanswered points to stun the Titans 29-28, Cleveland’s locker room transformed into a postgame nightclub. When Hoyer, who threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Travis Benjamin with 1:09 left, entered the room the party was well underway.

So, he joined it. And so did Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas, who showed some interesting steps while peeling tape off his hands.

Browns guard John Greco, aware the scene was being captured by cameras, stepped back and soaked it in.

“He looked like a typical white guy dancing at a wedding,” Greco said of Thomas. “I didn’t see Hoyer as much as I saw Joe. He was stealing the show.”

Browns rookie coach Mike Pettine was also mindful not to get caught on camera during a moment that was posted on Instagram by defensive lineman Phil Taylor (http://bit.ly/1uS2H8e).

“I knew it was being filmed and I stayed far out of the shot,” Pettine said.

But Pettine, who had already delivered his postgame speech, was having so much fun seeing his players dance that he told equipment manager Brad Mellon to keep the music blaring.

After all, the Browns had just pulled off their own Music City miracle, so why not dance?

For Pettine, the sight of Hoyer and Thomas — two of his leaders — getting a little carried away was well worth a few extra minutes of fun. The Browns are bonding.

“This is a tight group,” Pettine said, “and when you do things like we did yesterday there’s evidence of that.”

The Browns would prefer a more routine victory. They’ve certainly developed a flair for drama.

Cleveland’s four games have been decided by eight points, and the Browns’ two road games have followed very similar scripts. In their opener at Pittsburgh, the Browns trailed 27-3 before rallying and losing on a last-second field goal. The Titans jumped up 28-3 in the second quarter before the Browns stormed back — and this time finished.

Hoyer made it possible.

Once again, he was cool under pressure, orchestrating his third comeback win in just seven career starts.

In less than a year, Hoyer has overcome a serious knee injury, beaten out rookie Johnny Manziel for the starting job and perhaps established himself as a long-term answer at quarterback — either in Cleveland or somewhere else.

As the pressure gets stifling, Hoyer seems to thrive.

“Actually I’m surprised how calm I can be. Everyone else is going crazy and I’m just like this,” he said, moving his hand on a flat line. “Maybe you get a feeling for it throughout your career, but things seem to slow down a little bit in that situation when for some other people they speed up.”

Things didn’t get hectic for Hoyer until after the game, when he allowed himself to get a little crazy out on the locker room/dance floor.

“My wife made fun of me for it,” said. “She said, ‘I’ve never seen you dance that way.'”

NOTES: Pettine said he didn’t have any issue with Manziel being caught by TV cameras smiling on the sideline after the Browns fell behind 28-3. Pettine said the team’s play was “laughable” in the first half. … Pettine doesn’t think rookie LB Chris Kirksey tried to “cheap shot” Titans QB Jake Locker, who later left the game with a bruised thumb. Kirksey delivered a blow to Locker’s head in the end zone. “Anybody that knows Chris and knows Chris’s history knows he’s not a dirty player,” Pettine said. “The kid knew right away and felt bad about it. If you know the kid and what high character he is, you know there was no intent to harm there.” … Pettine did not have injury updates on CB Joe Haden (hip) or DE Phil Taylor (knee). Pettine did say Haden’s status could be “up in the air.”

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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