NEWPORT, R.I. – When Doug Marrone was hired as Syracuse’s head coach, he vowed to immediately overhaul the program’s image. After four dismal years of blowout losses and failed expectations, the SU name had fallen to virtual anonymity in the national consciousness.

Though the season is still a month away, it appears Marrone has already begun delivering on his promise. At the unveiling of what has become the unofficial start to its football season, SU has found itself in an increasingly unfamiliar position of relevance. And Marrone has a player who hasn’t taken a snap of organized football in roughly four years to thank for it.

The Syracuse table at Big East media day, which has been rather desolate in recent years, was one of the most popular destinations here at the Hotel Viking Tuesday morning. Reporters from around the country crowded around to ask Marrone about Greg Paulus, a former standout point guard at Duke who will play football for the Orange this season.

Marrone fielded an endless stream of questions for nearly two hours about his new quarterback and had some of the most recognizable media members in the country vying for his attention. No matter that Paulus has not played football since high school, where he starred for Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. Or that Marrone has yet to even seen him throw a football with his own eyes.

Paulus wasn’t even in attendance, but he still created the most buzz.

‘I don’t think there’s anything he can’t do,’ Marrone said.

Little was made about nose tackle Art Jones, who was at the event and said he has completely recovered from a chest injury that kept him out of spring football practice. Nor was there any mention that Syracuse was once again picked to finish last in the conference in the annual media poll – a key topic of conversation with former head coach Greg Robinson in Newport last year.

This day was all about Paulus.

Nevertheless, Marrone refused to call Paulus his first-string quarterback and said redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib is currently atop the depth chart. Nassib was named the starter during spring football, but speculation surrounding his job security began the moment Paulus announced his decision to sign with Syracuse.

If Paulus starts on opening day against Minnesota, the Carrier Dome will almost certainly be packed with ecstatic fans to greet a local superstar back to Central New York. Marrone said that public support for Paulus will have no bearing on his eventual decision, and he has not guaranteed Paulus playing time. Still, he stressed he believes Paulus will contribute to the team on the field, and not just at media day.

‘I’m the one that has to look him in the eye and say, ‘Hey, you have this opportunity to play quarterback,” Marrone said. ‘I’m the one that had to look him in the eye and say that. I was the one who had to feel comfortable with that. I did not look at it from the standpoint of exploiting Greg. I looked at it from the standpoint of Greg is going to help us win football games.’

Because Paulus did not sign with the Orange until May, he has not been able to participate in any formal football activities. Paulus has been with the team in Syracuse this summer learning the system through voluntary workouts with his teammates, but Marrone has not received many reports and will wait to evaluate Paulus when training camp officially opens on Monday.

Tight end Mike Owen, who joined Marrone and Jones at media day, said Paulus has demonstrated impressive accuracy during seven-on-seven drills and throws harder than he expected. He did not, however, say Paulus was ahead of Nassib.

At media day, Nassib was pushed to the background. Marrone took no more than a handful of questions about Nassib and spent a majority of his time talking about Paulus. One writer approached Marrone and said that Paulus is the most compelling storyline in Big East football this year.

Not bad for a downtrodden Syracuse program that was desperately searching for a spark. Paulus could be exactly what the Orange needs to begin the journey back into the spotlight.

‘I wish everyone would have the chance to meet him,’ Marrone said. ‘If you meet him, then you’ll know all the answers.’

jediamon@syr.edu

Published on August 16, 2009 at 12:00 pm