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Smith sees gradual improvement in Buccaneers

By WTOP Staff

FRED GOODALL
AP Sports Writer

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Lovie Smith says his Tampa Bay Buccaneers are improving, even if their record doesn’t reflect it.

The Bucs yielded 511 yards on defense, were flagged 15 times for 113 yards in penalties, and squandered an 11-point fourth-quarter lead in their latest loss, however Smith reiterated Monday that much of what undermined the team in an overtime setback at New Orleans can — and will — be corrected.

Sunday’s collapse left Tampa Bay (1-4) with sole possession of last place in the NFC South, with three of its four losses coming within the division. The Buccaneers host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

“As a football team we’re getting better, if that makes sense. But it seems like each week we go out and are putting a better product on the field,” Smith said, summarizing a 37-31 loss to the Saints, drove 80 yards in 12 plays to score the winning touchdown of the opening possession of OT.

“We’re disappointed we had an 11-point lead,” and couldn’t hold it, the coach added. “You have to be a pretty good team to get an 11-point lead on the road like that, which we are. We will tighten up these things that I’ve talked about … and eventually we’ll start winning football games consistently.”

On the encouraging side, Mike Glennon delivered another solid performance in his second start since replacing the injured Josh McCown at quarterback, Vincent Jackson had a big day with eight receptions for 144 yards, and linebacker Danny Lansanah returned one of the defense’s three interceptions off Drew Brees for a touchdown.

Offensively, however, the Bucs are still having difficulty running the ball. The Saints outrushed them 140 to 66, with Doug Martin being limited to 45 yards on 14 carries.

“We are not where we want to be and our record says that,” Glennon said after the game. “Maybe we are getting better, but better isn’t good enough if you aren’t winning. We need to keep working and to keep staying together, and I am sure those wins will come.”

Smith said many of the costly mistakes, including Lansanah being penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct while celebrating his TD, are careless and inexcusable.

The Bucs, who are in their first season under Smith, have been penalized 35 times for 273 yards in the past three games.

“Normally, things like that, put you in that 1-4 category. These are things that I’d say we can correct, but they’re happening right now,” the coach said.

“I’m not going to say we’re a young program. We’re a program that hasn’t figured all those things out,” Smith added. “But eventually we will.”

Smith wasn’t ready to say if Glennon, who led a game-winning TD drive in the close minutes of the team’s lone victory at Pittsburgh two weeks, has earned the No. 1 quarterback job.

McCown sprained the thumb on his throwing hand during a 42-point loss at Atlanta, and is sidelined indefinitely.

“I don’t know why we have to go there, right now,” Smith said.

“This is what I’ll say about Mike. Mike has played two great games, and odds are Mike will start for us this week,” at home against Baltimore, the coach added. “He’s had two opportunities to play and he’s played well. … I’ve been excited about everything he has done, but we go from day-to-day. … The quarterback position isn’t really one I’m concerned about.”

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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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