Syracuse Post-Standard sports columnist Bud Poliquin wrote that this is a no-brainer decision for the struggling program, as the Orange have won only 26 of its last 83 games and have nothing to lose with this roster addition.

Which makes this, of course, a no-brainer. As long as Marrone likes what he hears from Paulus, and as long as Paulus is confident that SU will provide him with the opportunity he seeks on the field and in the classrooms of the Newhouse School, this is a Done Deal.

Because he never was redshirted during his four years at Duke, Paulus has one year of eligibility remaining in another sport. He has completed his college degree thus allowing Paulus to attend graduate school elsewhere and compete immediately if granted a waiver from the NCAA.

Paulus was a prolific high school passer at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse; his high marks include an undefeated senior season in which he completed 66 percent of his passes for 3700 yards and threw for 43 touchdown passes. The Orange coaching staff feels Paulus is a perfect fit to lead their pro-style offense next season.

Before becoming one of the most hated college basketball players in the country, Greg Paulus was a really good football player in high school.

Paulus, 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, was a four-time all-state player at Christian Brothers and a starter in the U.S. Army All-American game, and set six state passing records. Christian Brothers was 42-3 during his time there, and he had 11,763 career passing yards and 152 touchdown passes in 45 games.

Paulus visited the Michigan campus this week and TonyBlogs.net says that he’d be eligible to play right away.

Although Paulus played four years at Duke, he has one year of eligibility remaining for football under NCAA rules. He would also not have to sit out a year if he transfers, as he would if he were switching to play basketball, which would allow him to potentially be the starting quarterback for the Wolverines in 2009.

By most accounts, Paulus was a better football player than basketball player in high school, though he was obviously pretty good in both. I’d like to see him have some success in this endeavor after Coach K benched him mid-season to give the Blue Devils a more athletic lineup.

- THE LOVE OF SPORTS dishes out some tough love to Carlos Boozer.

- AWFUL ANNOUNCING has video of Digger Phelps doing some awful dancing before the UCLA/Cal game.

- DEADSPIN has the story of a 36-year-old Pennsylvania man (with a 17-year-old son) who hosted a high school party complete with cheerleaders, booze and a stripper poll. This is what happens when you knock someone up at the age of 19.

- BACK PORCH (FANHOUSE) has video of Va. Tech Hokie fans chanting TEA-BAG-PAUL-US while Duke guard Greg Paulus was at the free throw line. I watched the game and thought they were chanting BEAT-GREG-PAUL-US, but what they come up with was a lot better.

In his freshman season, Singler was forced to guard guys bigger and stronger than he was, and he eventually wore down towards the end of the season. This summer, he forced himself to eat as much as his stomach could handle, and he looks quite a bit stronger as a result.

Duke is starting Nolan Smith at point guard; he beat out Greg Paulus for the starting gig in the preseason. Smith had 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal against Purdue, and looks to be turning the corner as a player. Plus, it helps Duke to have Paulus’ wealth of experience coming off the bench. Smith, Paulus and Scheyer make for a formidable rotation in the backcourt.