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Coach looks at how Titans built lead, not lost it

By WTOP Staff

TERESA M. WALKER
AP Pro Football Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — First-year coach Ken Whisenhunt has shaken off the disbelief of what he calls a surreal finish, watching the Titans blow the biggest home lead in NFL history. Now he’s focusing on how they jumped out to a 28-3 lead and just needed a play to win.

To him, those are signs of progress even with the Titans mired in a four-game skid.

“It gives us an opportunity to learn from it, and if we get in that situation again and we win a game because of it, it doesn’t leave a mark,” Whisenhunt said Monday.

The 29-28 loss to Cleveland on Sunday also marked the biggest blown lead in the regular season in franchise history. The only game worse was Jan. 3, 1993, when the then-Houston Oilers lost in overtime after being up 35-3 in Buffalo in the playoffs. That team shook that off and won its division the next season.

This team still hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2008 and is on its third head coach since then. The task got tougher Monday with confirmation that safety Bernard Pollard, who led Tennessee in tackles last season, tore his right Achilles tendon. Pollard will have surgery Tuesday morning and wrote on Twitter that this will be his first time on injured reserve.

Whisenhunt said quarterback Jake Locker “doesn’t appear” to have any structural or long-term damage to his right thumb after the player’s hand hit against a helmet in the second quarter.

Locker’s hand appeared swollen Monday night at a fundraiser for his Pass It On Foundation, and he shook hands only using his left hand. Locker said his hand is sore and will be examined a little bit more Tuesday to get a better idea of the extent of the injury. Locker added he was relieved the injury wasn’t worse.

“Always thankful for that,” Locker said. “Prayers were answered for sure.”

The Titans (1-4) had many opportunities to win that they ruined with penalties or mistakes, including two turnovers wiped out.

Whisenhunt called the flag on Marqueston Huff a bad call. The rookie was flagged for not getting back in bounds quickly enough on a muffed punt late in the third quarter. Whisenhunt said officials didn’t flag the Browns who did the same thing twice, only staying out of bounds longer and farther than Huff.

Jason McCourty returned his interception in the fourth quarter 59 yards to the Cleveland 1 but had it erased by his own illegal contact penalty. Whisenhunt defended McCourty for playing as coached. The cornerback had established his position inside 5 yards from the line of scrimmage before the Browns receiver pushed off McCourty 7 yards deep.

Special teams also cost the Titans, allowing a blocked punt for a safety when leading 28-13 in the fourth quarter.

Left guard Andy Levitre committed what his coach called an “unacceptable” penalty in the third quarter that turned a first-and-10 near midfield into second-and-23. The Titans punted two plays later.

Yet the Titans still had a chance at a first down that could have sealed the win on fourth down with half a yard to go. Backup quarterback Charlie Whitehurst was stopped inches short on a sneak, and Whisenhunt said it would have worked if blocked correctly.

“We weren’t ready,” Whisenhunt said. “We didn’t have a sense of urgency there. That’s something we’ve got to learn from.”

The Titans now host the winless Jaguars (0-5) on Sunday. They also have to show they can win on their own field after losing seven of their last eight and their first two under Whisenhunt.

“I fully believe that we’re going to be a good football team,” Whisenhunt said.

Notes: CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson should be cleared from the league’s concussion protocol Tuesday. CB Coty Sensabaugh (right knee) had an MRI exam, but Whisenhunt said he doesn’t think that will be a long-term injury.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

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Follow Teresa M. Walker at www.twitter.com/teresamwalker

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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