In the Paulus household, playing sports was never a job. It was just a way of life.
"That's pretty much what we did all the time," Greg Paulus said. "We were always hanging out, always playing. It's just something that has grown a part of us."
In a family of six boys, Greg and his younger brother Mike were never lacking for competition when they were growing up. Sports came naturally to the family, and a passion to succeed was instilled in the two youngest boys early on. They traveled the country to play some of the best kids their age and often older in a variety of sports, and an indelible friendship was formed.
"It's a very close relationship," Dave Paulus said of his sons. "They have spent a lot of time together either playing on teams together or just in overlapping friends. There was a bond that really developed and continues to grow."
Now that Greg is the freshman point guard at Duke-nearly 500 miles from his Syracuse, N.Y. home-the two are still just as close. They have replaced their daily car rides to and from their Christian Brothers Academy high school with almost nightly phone conversations.
While Greg elected to make basketball his top priority, Mike's passion is football. Like his older brother did, Mike, a high school junior, has garnered interest from many Division I college football programs as one of the nation's top quarterback prospects.
In the fall of 2001, as a 15-year old freshman, Greg led his high school football team to the state semifinals before losing his first career game. The feeling was a rare one for the four-time all-state quarterback as he lost only twice more before graduation. With the nation's scouts drooling at every glimpse they had of him and top colleges throwing scholarships his way, Greg won a state championship his senior year and shattered several New York high school quarterback records.
"I've never seen a quarterback like Greg Paulus," Mike said. "I've never seen a leader like him. There will never be another quarterback better in high school than him. He's the complete package."
Despite his gaudy statistics and immense talent, Greg maintained his commitment to play basketball at Duke.
Waiting in the wings, however, was Greg's best friend, brother and an outstanding quarterback prospect in his own right. This year, his first as a starter, Mike also led his team to the state semifinals before being knocked off. His first losing experience was a bit different than Greg's though, as he had to watch it from the sideline with a broken ankle.
Nevertheless, in one year of play, Mike has already been contacted by the likes of Notre Dame, Maryland, Virginia, Wisconsin and Michigan. Mike knows it was not easy getting to this level of success, and he said he is grateful for the lessons passed down to him by his older brothers.
"It was probably the best thing for me," Mike said about being the youngest. "They were probably the best competition in the central New York area. Learning from them, whether it was moves or dropbacks, it teaches you to be so tough, not only physically but mentally."
His father fondly remembers the days when Mike was the runt of the group and struggled to keep up. Now he is the biggest of the six Paulus sons, standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing over 200 pounds. His large frame makes it easy to see why scouts are raving about his strong throwing arm. Yet despite his physical skills, Greg believes it is his brother's intangibles that set him apart.
"Off the field, Mike's really easy to get along with," Greg said. "He's kind of just one of the guys, and for a quarterback to be that, and then on the field step up and be a leader, it's a good thing to have for a team."
And if Mike decides to join his brother at Duke, he could be a program-builder for the struggling Blue Devil football team. With the allure of a beautiful campus, an excellent education and his best friend, the blue-chip recruit is considering coming to Duke.
Though Greg chose to display his talents on the hardwood rather than the gridiron, he maintains a strong relationship with Duke head football coach Ted Roof and might be able to entice his brother to suit up for the program.
With all the success the two stars have had in football and basketball, Paulus became a household name in New York. If Mike joins his brother at Duke in a little over a year, Durham-and the rest of the nation-will get a full serving of Paulus.
"I think most people would refer to us as the Paulus Duo," Mike said. "Probably draw a lot of attention, start some whispers. It would just increase the experience and make it even better."
No matter how close they are, the brothers maintain a high level of competitiveness. A brotherly rivalry still rages on between Mike and Greg.
Asked who is the family's best quarterback, their most avid observer was eager to share his thoughts.
"Knowing them, I think Greg will say he's the best and Mike will say he's the best," Dave Paulus said. "I'll just continue to tell them they both need to improve."
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