Skip to main content

Texas Tech playing like “Bad News Bears” at times

By WTOP Staff

BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury sees plenty of confidence and swagger during practices. When it comes to game days, that bluster evaporates.

That could explain much of why the Red Raiders are sputtering, having lost three straight games after beating two teams in closer-than-expected wins to open the season.

“I would say the mental mistakes that show up in the games aren’t made in practice,” Kingsbury said. “I think there’s a lot of nervous energy that’s showing up. Fundamentals, techniques aren’t translating from the practice field onto the game field.”

There have been some “great moments” this season, he said Monday, but also times when his team has played like the “Bad News Bears.”

Texas Tech hasn’t lost three straight this early in a season since 1993. And a loss Saturday to West Virginia (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) would be the first time since 1990 the Red Raiders have dropped their first three conference games.

Since winning seven straight to open last season and rising to No. 10, Texas Tech is 3-8, and the Red Raiders (2-3, 0-2) have lost seven straight Big 12 games.

Quarterback Davis Webb is on pace to surpass his interception mark from last year. He threw nine interceptions in 10 games while sharing starts with Baker Mayfield, who transferred to Oklahoma. Webb has thrown 10 in five games this season — four coming in a 45-13 loss at No. 17 Kansas State on Saturday.

“You can’t continue to turn the ball over,” offensive coordinator Eric Morris said. “(Webb’s) got to learn from his mistakes and not repeat them.”

The team is also committing oodles of penalties, having been flagged 55 times for 511 yards to rank near the bottom nationally

Webb believes in his talent and that of his receivers, but acknowledged he might be trying to do too much.

“I put too much pressure on myself when things aren’t going right and guys aren’t getting open as much as they usually do or we aren’t running the ball as we usually do,” said the sophomore who’s thrown 1,603 yards and 16 touchdowns. “I put the pressure on myself and say, ‘We’ve got to make a better play and force this,’ instead of just calming down and let our guys make the plays.”

Webb’s backup is true freshman Patrick Mahomes. He played briefly after Webb went down with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter at Oklahoma State.

Kingsbury, who said he needs to call plays with which his offense is more comfortable, pointed to his team’s overall youth and a lack of confidence.

“Haven’t had a lot of confidence-building moments thus far in this season, and we need to build on some positives,” he said. “And there haven’t been a ton this year, to be honest.”

___

Follow Betsy Blaney on Twitter: https://twitter.com/betsyblaney

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
Read Next Story

Related News

US says it struck a commercial ship trying to breach blockade and reach Iran

Congress has taken on Epstein. But lawmakers and survivors are still searching for accountability

Top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies investigation into E. Jean Carroll, disputing media reports