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Harbaugh, 49ers CEO have ‘real good talk’

By WTOP Staff

ANTONIO GONZALEZ
AP Sports Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York stopped by Jim Harbaugh’s office Monday morning, and the coach said the two had a “real good talk” about the direction of the franchise.

Harbaugh called the meeting a “typical” conversation, though nothing surrounding the 49ers coach seems to be typical these days. He said both expressed appreciation for the job they’re doing and the team is moving forward as usual in preparation for next Monday night’s game at St. Louis.

“Everybody in the organization is doing their job, everybody is working hard at the craft of helping us be the best we can possibly be as a football team, and that’s all you can ask of anybody,” Harbaugh said. “They’re doing their best, and nobody appreciates that like I do. I know that’s what Jed appreciates. We work at the pleasure of the York family and the San Francisco 49ers organization, and that’s our job — do the best we possibly can. And I see everybody doing that.”

The drama involving Harbaugh bubbled up again last week.

NFL commentators and former players Deion Sanders and Trent Dilfer were among those that said Harbaugh had lost the locker room and the trust of his players. Another report questioned whether Harbaugh would be back with the 49ers next season.

York finally broke his silence on the topic, taking to Twitter before San Francisco’s 22-17 win over Kansas City on Sunday to try to quiet the latest fuss about Harbaugh’s future. York posted: “Jim is my coach. We are trying to win a SB (Super Bowl), not a personality or popularity contest. Any more questions?”

Many players also publicly backed Harbaugh and dismissed discussion that there’s friction between the coach and the locker room. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s comments echoed loudest.

“I love Coach Harbaugh. I’d go to war with him any day of the week,” Kaepernick said. “He’s a competitor, he wants to win and he’s going to do anything to put this team in a position to win.”

Harbaugh is in the fourth season of a $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011 when he left a successful stint at Stanford to become the 49ers coach.

York said last year he hoped to get a new deal done for Harbaugh during the offseason, but that didn’t happen. Instead, reports surfaced that the Cleveland Browns inquired about trading for Harbaugh.

Harbaugh has continued to describe his relationship with York, general manager Trent Baalke and the front office as “very good.” He praised his players again Monday, saying anybody questioning whether there’s an issue with the team only needs to look at the effort the 49ers (3-2) have put forth while winning the past two games.

“It’s an enjoyable team to be around. The way they play, the way they fight, the way they play together,” Harbaugh said. “My dad mentioned it when he was here for two weeks, the feeling he had for our team and how they interact, but the evidence is how they play. That’s a team that plays.”

In an interview on the “Rich Eisen Show” on DirecTV on Monday, York acknowledged that Harbaugh has a difficult personality and his competitive attitude “sometimes rubs people the wrong way.”

When asked if he was aware that his temperament can bother some in the organization, Harbaugh responded: “No. Not so much.”

However he does it, Harbaugh’s way wins.

In his first season, Harbaugh earned NFL Coach of the Year honors while leading the 49ers back to the playoffs following an eight-year stretch without a playoff berth or winning record. San Francisco lost in the NFC championship game that season to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.

Harbaugh followed that up by coaching the 49ers to their first Super Bowl appearance in 18 years, but San Francisco missed out on the franchise’s sixth championship by losing to his brother John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens. The 49ers went back to the NFC championship game last season, losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

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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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