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Why Ron Rivera chose Washington over the Giants and a reunion with Dave Gettleman

By Ethan Cadeaux

Why Rivera picked Washington over the Giants, reunion with Gettleman originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

When Ron Rivera was fired by the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 3, 2019, after serving as the team’s head coach for nine years, he knew it would only be a matter of weeks before teams would be vying for his services.

One club that seemed to be a logical fit for Rivera was the New York Giants, due to the head coach’s relationship with general manager Dave Gettleman. Rivera and Gettleman worked together for multiple years in Carolina and all four of the Panthers’ playoff appearances this past decade came with the two of them in charge.

However, just two days after the Giants fired head coach Pat Shurmur at the end of the 2019 season, Rivera was announced as the head coach of the Washington Football Team.

This coming Sunday, Rivera’s team is set to face the Giants for the first time since he took over as Washington’s head coach. On a phone call with New York media on Wednesday, Rivera was asked why he accepted the job in D.C. before even taking a visit with the Giants.

“Well, first of all, I was thoroughly recruited to come here and actually spent a lot of time and got a lot of opportunities to look at this team and just felt pretty comfortable,” Rivera said.

That wasn’t the end of Rivera’s answer, though.

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“It was never really about the money, I think it was more about the challenge,” Rivera continued. “For whatever reason, I like the challenge and it’s been a challenge, to be honest with you.” 

The “challenge” is something Rivera mentioned during his introductory presser with Washington in January. Rivera knew head coaching opportunities don’t come easily in the NFL, let alone second chances. The opportunity to be the face of a rebuild — while having more organizational control than he ever had in Carolina — was an offer too enticing for Rivera to turn down.

It’s also worth noting that agreeing to become Washington’s next coach was not a spontaneous decision for Rivera. The 58-year-old had been in communication with Washington owner Dan Snyder for weeks — the team had that luxury by already firing Jay Gruden — and even consulted legendary Washington coach Joe Gibbs before agreeing to take the job.

Despite not taking the reins in New York, Rivera did say he has maintained a solid relationship with Gettleman.

“My relationship with Dave Gettleman is good, I have a tremendous amount of respect for him,” Rivera said. “I have a tremendous amount of respect for who he is as a general manager, but more importantly who he is as a man. I really do mean that, too, because he’s really a part of the reason I’ve had success as a head coach.”

So, while Giants fans did not get to experience Carolina 2.0 in the Big Apple, expect nothing but respect between the two of them come Sunday.

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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