Weber State football: Wildcat QB aims to erase memories of subpar ’09 season

OGDEN — Weber State quarterback Cameron Higgins wasn't pleased with his first workout of fall camp on Friday morning.

So with the Wildcats splitting into two groups — one practicing, the other lifting weights — Higgins decided to stage his own start to two-a-days. He threw with the second practice group instead of lifting weights, firing bullets, making better reads and improving his satisfaction with the first official day of work as a senior quarterback.

"My first practice was bad," Higgins said. "I wanted to stay out and get some more work done. I needed to cut out the mistakes I was making, especially the reads — be smarter with the ball."

Higgins' poor play was news to coach Ron McBride, who had a different opinion of how his quarterback looked.

"The offense was very sharp in the 'A' practice (Higgins' first group)," McBride said.

"I don't know if he was watching me carefully," Higgins responded.

If McBride wasn't keeping a watchful eye on his superstar quarterback, it was a rare moment for Higgins in 2010. All eyes will be on him this season. Weber State fans and the rest of the Big Sky Conference are dying to know which Higgins they'll see.

Will it be the quarterback who was named the Big Sky's Offensive Player of the Year as a sophomore after he threw for 4,477 yards and 36 touchdowns with just 13 interceptions in 14 games? Or will it be the guy who threw for 3,326 yards, 30 touchdowns and 20 interceptions in 2009?

The Wildcats have no doubt Higgins will rebound in 2010.

"He's going to have a great season," said receiver Joe Collins. "He had an off year last year. He was pretty disappointed with his year. I feel he put in the work and effort to have a better season. This is his last year, and he wants to go out with a bang."

He'll try and go out with a bang — and with a chip on his shoulder.

Higgins would like to erase the memories of his junior season, in which he was able to lead the Wildcats to the FCS playoffs for an unprecedented second straight season. The 20 interceptions hurt Weber State, and particularly costly were the pick-sixes that gift-wrapped points to opponents.

The only person Higgins blames for the interceptions is himself.