Hawaii quarterback Jeremy Higgins wasted little time deciding what to do with his new football scholarship.
"I want to go to summer school," said Higgins, who will be a fourth-year junior this season.
Since transferring from Utah State in June 2011, Higgins has worked in construction each summer to help pay for school expenses.
There’s another bonus. He will be allowed to eat training-table meals for free.
"That’ll be nice to go and eat after practice," Higgins said. "I’m looking forward to that."
Higgins earned the scholarship after doing well in spring ball.
Higgins, who started one game in 2012, was told he would have limited reps this spring to allow more work for quarterbacks Taylor Graham and Ikaika Woolsey. Higgins made the most of his limited opportunities, repeatedly leading scoring drives in scrimmage-like drills. Higgins threw two scoring passes, including a 60-yarder, in the spring game.
Graham exited spring training as the No. 1 quarterback. Higgins and Sean Schroeder, who did not practice after having back surgery on April 1, were bracketed at No. 2. UH coach Norm Chow said he will evaluate the position this summer.
Chow said Higgins was deserving of a scholarship. Higgins completed his second year with the Warriors, meaning his scholarship will not count against the 25 initials a school is limited to offering each year.
"He kept thanking me," Chow said. "I said, ‘Jeremy, I don’t do favors. You earned this.’"
Higgins is a 2010 Saint Louis School graduate who played his freshman season at Utah State. He decided to transfer after that first year.
"Coming back home wasn’t the best thing financially," Higgins said. "My dad told me: ‘It’s about having fun. Don’t worry about (the money).’ I’ve had support from my whole family."
Higgins’ father, Jim Higgins, played for the Rainbows in the early 1980s. His sister, Tayler Higgins, will play for the Rainbow Wahine volleyball team this year.
Higgins said it was "surreal" when Chow called with the offer.
"I had a scholarship out of high school, but I felt I really worked for this one," Higgins said. "It’s a blessing. It’s a really good gift. I really worked hard for it. I’m going to keep working hard for it."
