Hawaii quarterbacks Taylor Graham, Sean Schroeder and Jeremy Higgins are the best of competitors.
"They have to get along," head coach Norm Chow said. "It’s important they get along."
Schroeder and Higgins are in the difficult position of being left-handed complements to the right-armed Graham, who is the No. 1 quarterback in training camp. In 2012, Schroeder started 11 games, Higgins started one, and Graham was the scout-team quarterback while sitting out after transferring from Ohio State.
Graham was awarded the No. 1 spot in spring training. Schroeder did not participate in spring drills after undergoing back surgery on April 1.
Schroeder has been cleared to practice in training camp and competes in all of the drills despite wearing the yellow jersey reserved for players who are not allowed to be hit.
"I’m not 100 percent yet," said Schroeder, deferring further comments about his physical progress to the trainers.
Schroeder said he has focused solely on mastering the expanded offense. He said he does not worry about his place on the depth chart.
"You can just control your effort and your attitude," Schroeder said.
Schroeder added: "I can’t complain. I’m in Hawaii playing football. Other people would like to be doing this."
Higgins has done the math.
"Quarterback is a hard position because everybody feels he can play it, but there’s only one guy who gets the job." Higgins said. "That’s what coach Chow always tells us. You can put four or five (defensive backs) on the field at the same time, but you can only play one quarterback."
Chow said the "toughest job" in football is being the backup quarterback.
"You have to prepare every day like you’re one snap away (from playing) and you might never get in the ballgame," Chow said.
Still, Chow said, "backup quarterbacks in the NFL make a lot of money, and they stay healthy for a long time."
As Brigham Young’s offensive coordinator, Chow told Marc Wilson he was being displaced at quarterback by Jim McMahon. At USC, Chow told Matt Cassel he lost out to Carson Palmer and then Matt Leinart. Palmer and Leinart were eventual Heisman Trophy winners.
"Matt (Cassel) and I had huge arguments in the office," Chow recalled.
Cassel never started a game at USC, but he was drafted by the New England Patriots. He eventually made it to the Pro Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs.
"He stuck with it, and made himself a millionaire, as well," Chow said.
