In extending the suspense, Hawaii football coach Norm Chow said he will delay announcing a starting quarterback until the end of the week.

Chow was expected to promote Jeremy Higgins to No. 1 on Monday. Higgins still is expected to start in Friday’s nationally televised road game against Air Force.

Chow said Higgins and Sean Schroeder, a Duke graduate who has started all nine UH games, will split the reps this week, but Higgins will take the first snap in drills.

Chow said Schroeder expressed disappointment that his job was in jeopardy. Schroeder had an appointment after Monday’s practice and was not available for comment.

Higgins said he welcomed the opportunity.

"I was taught to prepare like I was the starter," Higgins said. "Everything should stay the same."

Higgins knows about pressure. At Saint Louis School, he started ahead of Marcus Mariota, now the quarterback for top-ranked Oregon.

"If you’re going to take on that position, you have to know what comes with it," Higgins said of playing quarterback. "So far it’s been good. I like the position."

Chow has been a strong supporter of Schroeder, who moved to Hawaii this summer and was awarded the No. 1 quarterback’s job following the third practice of training camp.

The Warriors’ offense has collectively struggled this year. Chow said Schroeder "doesn’t deserve all of the criticism he’s getting."

Chow said he wants a quarterback to have "command of the huddle" and to make "good decisions — in other words, to be a leader."

While Schroeder has done well in practices, Chow said, the Warriors are in need of a boost. Chow said Higgins’ recent play — two scoring drives in the past two games — "warrants" a look.

"We need to pick it up," Chow said. "We need to play better offensively. If Jeremy gives us that spark, we’ll go with Jeremy."

The Warriors have relinquished 31 sacks this season. Schroeder has fumbled 12 times, losing eight.

Chow acknowledged that Higgins is "a little more active in the pocket. That doesn’t necessarily mean mobility. It means being able to move his feet and step up."

Higgins said he has been helped by tutoring sessions with Vince Passas, one of the top local quarterback coaches. Higgins has improved the zip on his passes. He also has developed a sense of the pass rush.

"We used to do a drill where (Passas would) roll a ball," Higgins recalled. "We couldn’t look at the ball. You had to ‘feel’ the ball coming toward you. That was a good drill."

Higgins also has developed a sixth sense with UH long-snapper Luke Ingram.

"I can feel his stare," Higgins said. "When I’m running off the field for a field goal or an extra point, he’s happy. When I’m running off the field for a punt, I feel (Ingram’s) angry stare."

Ingram said: "That’s motivation."

Chow announced that running back Will Gregory will not play this week following his ejection for twice punching a Boise State player on a punt return Saturday.