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The Daily OrangeCOMING HOME: Paulus signs on to play football at Syracuse
By Matt Ehalt
Posted: 5/14/09, 12:46 PM EST Section: Sports
Paulus will still have to receive a waiver from the NCAA to play football at Syracuse. He is allowed to play football, despite playing four years of college basketball for the Blue Devils because he did not claim a redshirt while at Duke, allowing him one year of eligibility left in another sport. To play at another school, he must pursue an academic option that is not available to him at his current school.
Paulus said his visit with Nebraska, another school on his short list, went great and is a place with a lot of tradition in his meeting with their coach and offensive coordinator, but Syracuse is where he wanted to be. He said he is not sure yet what he will be studying at Newhouse.
"I do have a strong interest in the business of communications and I know that some applications and paperwork have to be filled out, but hopefully there's an opportunity to pursue either business or something in communications with Newhouse."
Paulus graduated from CBA in 2005 and headed to Duke to play basketball despite being the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year his senior year. He threw for 3,677 yards and 43 touchdowns and turned down football scholarships from vaunted powerhouses Notre Dame and Miami to run the show for coach Mike Krzyzewski down in Durham.
After his four-year stint at Duke ended prematurely with a loss to Villanova in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, some interest and calls from football people rekindled the flame inside Paulus. He started throwing the pig skin again and the "itch and desire came back." He received interest from two dozen schools and visited three universities: Syracuse, Nebraska and Michigan.
In the end, he chose to come back home and create some competition for currently slated starter, Nassib. Paulus, though, reiterated that he does not have the starting job on the call that lasted approximately 30 minutes.
"I do not have any guarantee. No promises or guarantee," Paulus said. "Coach Marrone and I had a couple conversations with him on the phone and when I went to visit him and visit the staff, some of the guys on the team, Syracuse is a great place and there's a lot of really good people there. And coach Marrone is someone that I feel very connected to and someone that has done a great job and is going to do a great job in the future."
Paulus does not know where he will live next year, saying he just wants to get together with the guys on the team and "get an apartment," citing his lack of knowledge of university housing (most athletes are given an apartment on South Campus). But one thing is for certain: after four years away from Syracuse, Paulus has finally returned.
"To go back home and have the family support and to get a chance to help Syracuse out and to come back home is something that is exciting," Paulus said. "And to have a chance to play for Coach Marrone is something that I am looking forward to. Just getting to know him, he's someone I am really excited to get to work with and work for and I can't wait to get going."
mrehalt@syr.edu
Paulus said his visit with Nebraska, another school on his short list, went great and is a place with a lot of tradition in his meeting with their coach and offensive coordinator, but Syracuse is where he wanted to be. He said he is not sure yet what he will be studying at Newhouse.
"I do have a strong interest in the business of communications and I know that some applications and paperwork have to be filled out, but hopefully there's an opportunity to pursue either business or something in communications with Newhouse."
Paulus graduated from CBA in 2005 and headed to Duke to play basketball despite being the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year his senior year. He threw for 3,677 yards and 43 touchdowns and turned down football scholarships from vaunted powerhouses Notre Dame and Miami to run the show for coach Mike Krzyzewski down in Durham.
After his four-year stint at Duke ended prematurely with a loss to Villanova in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, some interest and calls from football people rekindled the flame inside Paulus. He started throwing the pig skin again and the "itch and desire came back." He received interest from two dozen schools and visited three universities: Syracuse, Nebraska and Michigan.
In the end, he chose to come back home and create some competition for currently slated starter, Nassib. Paulus, though, reiterated that he does not have the starting job on the call that lasted approximately 30 minutes.
"I do not have any guarantee. No promises or guarantee," Paulus said. "Coach Marrone and I had a couple conversations with him on the phone and when I went to visit him and visit the staff, some of the guys on the team, Syracuse is a great place and there's a lot of really good people there. And coach Marrone is someone that I feel very connected to and someone that has done a great job and is going to do a great job in the future."
Paulus does not know where he will live next year, saying he just wants to get together with the guys on the team and "get an apartment," citing his lack of knowledge of university housing (most athletes are given an apartment on South Campus). But one thing is for certain: after four years away from Syracuse, Paulus has finally returned.
"To go back home and have the family support and to get a chance to help Syracuse out and to come back home is something that is exciting," Paulus said. "And to have a chance to play for Coach Marrone is something that I am looking forward to. Just getting to know him, he's someone I am really excited to get to work with and work for and I can't wait to get going."
mrehalt@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Josh
posted 5/14/09 @ 2:49 PM EST
I'm skeptical of this move. I want to believe in the new coach and all, but bringing in a Dukie? Let alone one who hasn't played football in a while. I don't know about this one. (Continued…)
GRANT
posted 5/15/09 @ 5:10 AM EST
I ECHO THE PREVIOUS POST~~~WORKS OUT GREAT FOR PAULUS TO GET A FREE RIDE FOR A YEAR AND SERVE AS A STEPPING STONE TO THE N-F-L, BUT WHAT DOES THIS MOVE REALLY DO TO HELP OUR BELEAGURED GRIDDERS??? NOT MUCH THAT I CAN SEE~~~
PAULUS SNUBBED SYRACUSE WHEN RECRUITED ORIGINALLY, AND THERE'S NO REASON TO THINK THAT HE THINKS ORANGE NOW. (Continued…)
Troy Nunes
posted 5/17/09 @ 7:00 AM EST
I could take him
Radames
posted 5/21/09 @ 1:01 PM EST
QB play hasn't been the strongest for syracuse the past 10 years. this team sucks to begin with so if we just improved by 2-3 wins this year then its a huge success we got him. (Continued…)
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