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Tony Kornheiser: ‘I was physically terrified’ for Alex Smith

By Ryan Homler

Tony Kornheiser: ‘I was physically terrified’ for Alex Smith originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

Alex Smith’s return to the football field on Sunday after nearly two years removed from a severe leg injury brought with it mixed emotions for those taking in the incredible moment.

All were proud of the quarterback for battling back and defying the odds, but some couldn’t help but wince when they saw Smith take a big hit from the Rams defense, which happened quite often.

ESPN’s Tony Kornheiser was in that faction, feeling nothing but nerves during Smith’s time on the field.

“I was physically terrified for him. I saw his wife and kids in the stands and my heart ached for them. He got sacked six times, the Washington offensive line is terrible,” Kornheiser said on ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption. “Every time he went down I thought his leg would break again. I honestly did.”

As Kornheiser mentioned, shortly after Smith took the field the reality of the physical nature of football settled in. The quarterback quickly took a sack, and then six more through his two-plus quarters of action. That doesn’t include the numerous hits he took when delivering the ball from the pocket.

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Elizabeth Smith, Alex’s wife, was in attendance at the game with their children and experienced emotions similar to Kornheiser as Smith entered the game. When she saw her husband trot onto the field, she couldn’t help but feel like she was “going to vomit.” That nervousness died down, however, as she witnessed the quarterback take the hits and complete his incredible journey.

Head coach Ron Rivera and Smith were in a different boat, expressing that they were pleased to see the first big hit. Throughout training camp and entering the regular season, the biggest question mark surrounding Smith was if he would be able to protect himself and get back up after being taken to the ground. 

Sunday showed that wouldn’t be an issue, though both could have done without the additional five sacks that came after. 

It was the additional knocks that had Kornheiser struggling to enjoy Smith’s incredible comeback. Each time the quarterback dropped or had Aaron Donald on his back, he feared for what would come next.

“I’m glad he is physically well, but it was like watching a car wreck,” Kornheiser said. “It was very, very hard for me.”

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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