When Greg Paulus lined up under center at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, N.Y. earlier this decade, he connected on many touchdown passes to current SU receiver Lavar Lobdell. But even though the two might be hooking up on touchdown patterns again this fall, the newest member of the Orange isn’t pondering that scenario happening on a college field – yet. ‘I haven’t thought that far ahead,’ Paulus said. ‘I think there’s so many things that need to be covered and so many things that I have to do in order to make something like that happen. This has been a process and now it’s going to be a learning process trying to retain as much information to make sure that I can help out this team and make sure that Syracuse is becoming a better team. And if that’s what happens, then that will be awesome.’ The former Duke point guard announced Thursday morning on a teleconference he plans to play football for Syracuse University next season while studying as a graduate student in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. He will join a quarterback unit that at the moment is led by redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib and help build off the newfound excitement in the program that was charged by first-year head coach Doug Marrone’s arrival. ‘It is my intention to continue my academic career as well as continue my football interests at Syracuse University,’ Paulus said. ‘I called Coach Marrone this morning to let him know of my decision and I am excited to move onto the next phase of my academic and athletic career. ‘I think Syracuse has a lot of great things about it. Being from there obviously, you grow up in the culture and there’s a lot of great opportunities out there. After taking my visit there, my heart and my gut were telling me to get the opportunity academically at Syracuse, my heart and my gut were telling me that was the best place for me.’ Syracuse head coach Marrone can’t comment on the issue until all the paper work is filed due to NCAA Regulations, SU Assistant Athletic Director for Communications Sue Edson said. Until Paulus signs, he is essentially a player making a verbal commitment to Syracuse despite entering as a graduate student. 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