Quarterback controversies are difficult to contain

From 2007 through 2010 Colin Kaepernick of Nevada was an enemy of the state of Hawaii. Now Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers has started the past two games at quarterback for the favorite team of many NFL fans in the islands.

If you didn’t see him play in college other than in games against the University of Hawaii, it was easy to view Kaepernick as a very inaccurate passer and erratic player. But his completion percentage improved each year, up to 64.9 as a senior. Every time against UH, however, that number was lower than it was against the rest of Nevada’s schedule and the Warriors prevailed three of the four games.

So, when viewed through the wide-angle lens, Kaepernick’s emergence as an effective NFL quarterback (so far) isn’t all that shocking; he’s been making steady progress for a long time.

Now he’s in the middle of a quarterback controversy with Alex Smith, and coach Jim Harbaugh is expected to name a starter today for Sunday’s game at St. Louis. Smith has the experience, but Kaepernick has the momentum and the upside.

Kaepernick started two weeks ago because Smith couldn’t play due to a concussion. Smith was cleared to play last week, but Harbaugh decided to start Kaepernick again — and San Francisco won again. How this plays out is anyone’s guess.

Closer to home, following the 48-10 victory over UNLV, Sean Schroeder has re-solidified his spot as the starter for UH’s last game Saturday against South Alabama after Jeremy Higgins got the call at Air Force.

But once a quarterback controversy begins it’s hard to put it to rest. That might  be one of the reasons Hawaii coach Norm Chow was reluctant to replace Schroeder earlier during UH’s eight-game losing streak.

The Warriors got a standing ovation at halftime Saturday, leading UNLV 31-0. That applause will quickly turn to boos again if Schroeder and the Warriors don’t get off to a quick start on senior night.

There’s still a contingent of fans that wants Higgins to start, or at least get more playing time. Chow said he doesn’t know if Higgins could beat Schroeder in a foot race, but acknowledges he has more pocket mobility than the oft-sacked starter.

Schroeder did an excellent job converting third downs into first downs against UNLV, and that’s a big reason why the Warriors got off to such a good start. Higgins didn’t help his case for more playing time by going 0-for-3 passing against the Rebels.

Schroeder, Higgins and others will end up battling for the No. 2 spot next year; Taylor Graham, who is redshirting upon transferring from Ohio State, is what Chow wants behind center. If he lives up to the hype, there will be no quarterback controversy at UH after this Saturday.

The one in San Francisco will go on awhile, maybe as long as Kaepernick and Smith are both on the 49ers roster.

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Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783.