SPORTS N STUFF

Greg Paulus is returning home to Syracuse to play football.

The former Duke point guard will enroll in graduate school at Syracuse and try to make a comeback in football for the Orange, he said Thursday.

My gut and my heart were telling me that (Syracuse) was the best place for me, Paulus said from Durham, N.C., during a conference call.

The decision ends a month of speculation whether the one-time star high school quarterback from Syracuse would resume his football career.

He worked out for the Green Bay Packers in April, acknowledged meeting with Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez about playing for the Wolverines, also visited Nebraska and said he was contacted by about two dozen programs.

It got me thinking, got me throwing again (and) once I got doing that, the itch and the desire came back, Paulus said. To have this opportunity where I have two sports, and to be able to do them both at the college level, its something thats pretty unique and special.

He said he called new Orange coach Doug Marrone on Thursday morning to notify him of his decision.

The three-year starting guard graduated from Duke earlier this month. He has one season of eligibility remaining and can play immediately if he receives a waiver from the NCAA.

Marrone was not available and could not comment on the announcement because the NCAA paperwork has not been completed, university officials said.

Paulus was a record-setting high school quarterback in high school at Christian Brothers Academy, located less than a mile from Marrones office, and now has a legitimate chance at Syracuse, a proud program thats fallen on hard times.

Ive seen a lot of great years at Syracuse, Paulus said.

The Orange hired Marrone in December to resurrect the team he once played for – Syracuse has gone 10-37 over the past four seasons. He already has moved former starting quarterback Andrew Robinson to tight end and demoted Cam Dantley, last years starter, to backup behind redshirt freshman Ryan Nassib, who has never thrown a college pass.

Paulus said Marrone has made no promises, no guarantees about playing time.

At CBA, Paulus was one of the nations top prep quarterbacks. As a senior running a potent spread offense, he threw for 3,700 yards and 43 touchdowns in a 13-0 season. He finished his prep career with 11,763 yards and 152 touchdowns passing.

Miami and Notre Dame offered him football scholarships, and he received a basketball offer from Syracuse before choosing to play basketball at Duke. For most of the past four years, his only flirtation with football came when he threw the ball around with his younger brother, Mike, a quarterback at North Carolina.

Having been away from the game for so long has raised doubts about whether Paulus, at 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, can succeed at the Division I level, especially for a team like Syracuse, which has struggled to build a solid offensive line.

Theres going to be challenges along the way with getting into football shape, learning the system, getting back to speed, Paulus said. Its a different challenge, and its one that Im looking forward to.

Since Paulus did not redshirt and will complete his degree at Duke in four years, he can go to graduate school elsewhere and compete right away if he is granted the waiver. Paulus said he plans to drive back to Syracuse in the coming days to deal with the necessary paperwork.

Boston College linebacker Mark Herzlich, the Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year, has cancer.

Herzlich said Thursday he was diagnosed earlier this week with Ewings Sarcoma after feeling pain in his leg and will undergo more tests in his home state of Pennsylvania.

Ewings Sarcoma is a malignant tumor often found in bone or soft tissue.

Herzlich, of Wayne, Pa., said earlier this year that he would return to BC for his senior season. As a junior, he led the Eagles with 81 solo tackles and was one of two linebackers in the country with six interceptions.

Herzlich said he was determined to return to football after fighting the disease.

Two former University of Toledo football players charged in a point-shaving scheme were arraigned in federal court Wednesday, including an ex-running back from Canada who is described as a key contact for Detroit-area gamblers.

Not guilty pleas were entered on behalf of Adam Cuomo of Hagersville, Ontario, and Quinton Broussard of Carrollton, Texas.

The FBI says Cuomo, 31, incriminated himself during an interview in December 2006. Authorities also have recordings of phone calls between him and Ghazi Gary Manni of Sterling Heights.

In December 2005, the talk turned to how a reluctant basketball player had agreed to shave points.

Cuomo responded by saying that money will overcome all, FBI agent Stephen Ferrari said in a court document unsealed last month.

Cuomo is charged with conspiring with Manni, Mitchell Ed Karam and others to fix the results of Toledo football and basketball games, from late 2004 through 2006.

He met Manni through the owner of a phone shop in Toledo, Ohio, the FBI says.

Cuomo stated that he was the University of Toledo player who started the point-shaving scheme with Gary … He brought numerous University of Toledo athletes from the football and basketball teams to the Detroit area to meet the gambler, Ferrari said.

Defense lawyer Richard Helfrick said he was not involved in the case when the FBI knocked on Cuomos door in 2005. He hasnt had an opportunity to look at evidence collected by the government.

Asked if his client wants to make a deal with prosecutors, Helfrick said: We have not had those kinds of specific discussions.

Authorities say Karam and Manni bet $407,000 on Toledo basketball games in 2005 and 2006 and paid players to shave points to control the final score. Seven ex-players – three in football and four in basketball – have been charged.

Broussard, 25, scored nine touchdowns as a running back in 2004-05. He, too, is charged with conspiracy to influence sports through bribery. The indictment says he met Manni at least twice and talked with him on the phone.

His lawyer, Sanford Plotkin, said Its very unfortunate hes caught up in this affair.

In a separate indictment, Manni and Karam are charged with conspiring with a jockey at Tampa Bay Downs in Florida to fix races.

A total of 11 Tennessee players with scholarships have left the Volunteers football program under new coach Lane Kiffin, including four since the end of spring practice.

A team spokesman confirmed that wide receivers Ahmad Paige and Tyler Maples, offensive guard Darris Sawtelle and quarterback B.J. Coleman have left the program since the teams Orange and White scrimmage game on Apr. 18.

Kiffin, who was introduced at Tennessee last December, said during a Big Orange Caravan stop earlier this week that he only wants players who want to play for the Vols.

Tennessee is allowed a total of 85 scholarship players each season under NCAA rules.

Former Nebraska quarterback Sam Keller is suing EA Sports and the NCAA, saying the video-game maker wrongly uses the names and likenesses of athletes and the NCAA sanctions the practice.

Kellers lawsuit was filed Tuesday in federal court in San Francisco as a class-action, suing on behalf of all college athletes depicted in the NCAA Football and NCAA Basketball video games made by EA Sports.

Rob Carey of Phoenix, Kellers attorney, contends EA Sports profits from using the names and likenesses of players. The lawsuit would bar EA Sports from using the names and likenesses and seeks undetermined compensation for athletes who have been portrayed in the video games.

Keller was Nebraskas starting quarterback in 2007. He transferred from Arizona State in 2006.

NCAA bylaws prohibit the use of the names and likenesses of athletes for commercial purposes. NCAA spokesman Bob Williams said in a statement Thursday that the NCAA is confident it will be dismissed from the case.

Our agreement with EA Sports clearly prohibits the use of names and pictures of current student-athletes in their electronic games, he said. We are confident that no such use has occurred.

Though names are not visible on player jerseys in the video games, the lawsuit contends EA Sports intentionally circumvents the prohibitions on utilizing student-athletes names by allowing gamers to upload entire rosters, which include players names and other information, directly into the game in a matter of seconds.

A message seeking comment from EA Sports in Redwood City, Calif., was not immediately returned.

The lawsuit said EA contracts with the NCAAs licensing company, Collegiate Licensing Co. of Atlanta, allowing the video-game maker to replicate team logos, uniforms, mascots and stadiums with almost photographic realism.

Carey says Keller, who lives in Phoenix, is not interested in getting compensated for himself.

He just didnt think it appropriate that, given that the NCAA says you cant profit from your likeness … they do the wink and the nod when EA Sports presents them with the game, which has the likeness of the player, Carey said.

In Saturdays Blue-White game, rising senior defensive end Jeremy Jarmon appeared healthy and well-prepared on his path to the 2009 season. That path includes many stops he and his teammates will take together training camp, final exams but Jarmon is making one pit stop by himself.

Jarmon will study abroad this summer in France.

The month-long trip to Paris, which Jarmon said will have nothing to do with football other than staying in shape, will allow the 2007 All-Southeastern Conference performer to study, enjoy his time in the classroom and visit a few friends scattered throughout Europe.

My roommate is from Germany, 45 minutes south of Frankfurt, so theres that, Jarmon said. I have friends in Amsterdam. This time when Im over there, Ill probably make a trip to Stockholm and another trip to Amsterdam. I still have to get my rail pass, so well see what other places I hit up while Im over there.

Jarmon sought his coaches approval before setting the trip in stone, and Jarmon said head coach Rich Brooks was his biggest advocate. Brooks asked where Jarmon was going and when Jarmon told him, Brooks told Jarmon he had to take advantage of that wonderful opportunity.

He didnt have to ask me, he had to ask the head coach, said defensive coordinator Steve Brown, who Jarmon still consulted on the trip. Hes very articulate, a very intelligent young man. Hes basically trying to broaden his horizons by traveling abroad, and I applaud anyone who tries to be more well-rounded.

Jarmons attempt at being well-rounded includes the diverse courses hes considering to take in Paris. Although he hasnt narrowed it down yet, hes considering a French culture class, a psychology class, and a photography class to take advantage of his new digital camcorder.

I just bought this new video camera, and I already have a digital camera that I use a lot, Jarmon said. Why not try to learn how to use them better?

Hell eventually choose two of those classes, he said, and enjoy the rest of his time in the gym and visiting friends like hes done on previous trips to Europe.

When hes traveling, thats pretty much our time off, but were encouraged to train and work hard, rising senior defensive tackle Corey Peters said. Hell have a great time. Ive heard some stories from his previous trips, but Id probably need his permission to share some of them. Hell be the life of the party like he is here in Kentucky.

Jarmon plans on blogging for the UK Athletics Web site during his trip, sending some photos home along the way.

Between time in the classroom, the gym and on Europes railroads, Jarmons time off may be anything but. Brown said its just another pit stop down the long road of a student-athletes life.

I doubt hed do anything where he couldnt stay in shape. They have weights over there, he can run. Its not like hes going to the middle of the Amazon where there arent nice facilities, Brown said. More importantly, hes going over there to experience what life has to offer in France, and hell have a great time.

Alabama receiver Julio Jones has undergone surgery to repair a sports hernia.

A spokesman for the football team confirmed Monday that Jones had the surgery. He is expected to be back for fall camp.

Jones was the Crimson Tides leading receiver as a freshman with 58 catches for 924 yards. He was a second-team Associated Press All-Southeastern Conference pick.

Jones was instantly one of the Tides most popular players. He won a seat on the Student Government Associations senate through write-in votes.