Higgins is 20-18 during his four years against non-FBS team.

The 2008 schedule for The Citadel Football turned out to be one of the toughest during Higgins’ tenure with matchups against Clemson, Florida and three-time defending national champion Appalachian State.

Under Higgins’ leadership in 2008, redshirt sophomore quarterback Bart Blanchard finished the season first in the conference in passing average in conference-only games with 231.6 yards a game and second in total offense with 244.6 yards a game. Higgins also coached Blanchard to the fifth-best passing performance in school history against Georgia Southern when he completed 27-of-48 passes with no interceptions for 358 yards and three touchdowns. Blanchard’s total offense of 2,609 yards of offense broke the school’s record for the most offensive yards in a single-season. His 19 touchdown passes also ranked second in single-season records.

Also under Higgins’ guidance, junior wide receiver Andre Roberts earned first team All-America honors, while also finishing first in the country in punt returns. Roberts broke his own record for catches in a season from 78 in 2007 to 95 in 2008. He also broke the school record for the most catches in a career (208), receiving yards in a career (2,951), receiving yards in a single-season (1,334), and the most punt return yards in a season and in a career with 461 and 943, respectively.

Roberts led the Bulldogs to a first place finish in the nation in punt returns, while himself earning the national title for punt returns. Higgins also coached the first pair of receivers since 1983 and second in school history to earn over 100 yards receiving in the same game in Roberts and Scott Flanagan.

Five players were named to All-Conference teams, while running back Asheton Jordan and defensive back Demontrelle Smith were named to the inaugural SoCon All-Freshman team.

The 2007 season, however, proved to be the most successful for the fourth-year head coach, claiming the Bulldogs’ first seven-win season in 15 years. Higgins also led The Citadel, who finished 7-4, to their second consecutive winning conference record, 4-3, while breaking over 40 school records throughout the season.

Under Higgins’ coaching, senior quarterback Duran Lawson broke the school’s record for the most offensive attempts in a game, total offensive yards in a game, total offensive yards in a season, passing attempts in a career, completions in a career, the best completion percentage in a career and the most passing yards in a career.