Paulus makes return to Chapel Hill

When Mike Paulus left the North Carolina football team last year, he didn’t just leave behind his friends and teammates. He left behind an identity and created a new one.

Paulus, a quarterback at William & Mary, now goes by Michael and will get a chance to upend his friends and former coaches when the Tribe come to Chapel Hill on Saturday.

His statistical marks while at North Carolina were less than impressive — Paulus completed four of 13 attempted passes for 33 yards and two interceptions. After arriving at UNC as a prized recruit, Paulus sat behind T.J. Yates for a year before he got his chance to perform on the gridiron.

After Yates suffered an injury in 2008 against Virginia Tech, Paulus stepped onto the field with his team up 10-3 in the third quarter, but the Hokies came back to best the Tar Heels 20-17.

The next week, he had a chance to redeem himself at Miami but once again came up short and was replaced by Cam Sexton. Paulus wouldn’t start another game for the Tar Heels.

“He has a lot more game experience under his belt now,” senior offensive tackle Mike Ingersoll said. “Coming in as a quarterback against Virginia Tech and then Miami, it’s hard not having much game experience and trying to come in and play against them.

“You can’t hold that against him, he did the best he could and I think he always did the best he could.”

Paulus transferred to William & Mary in 2009 before the Tar Heels’ December bowl game against Pittsburgh.

After the Tribe’s starting quarterback, Mike Callahan, went down against Maine on Sept. 25, Paulus once again found himself having to take over mid-game, leading the Tribe to a 24-21 comeback win. As the starter, Paulus has gone 3-0, including a win against top-ranked Villanova.

His success has come as no surprise to Ingersoll.

“He was always a positive influence on the team, he worked his butt off in the weight room and the film room,” Ingersoll said. “You could always find him out here throwing balls, and he was very proud of hard work.”

Though Callahan is slated to start this weekend, there is a good chance Paulus will see time on the field. Fortunately for UNC coaches and players, they have already witnessed what he can do with his arm.

“I think he throws a lot of good intermediate routs,” senior tailback Shaun Draughn said. “I think his deep ball mechanics are something he has worked on a lot.”

Though he left his North Carolina career behind, Paulus still stays in touch with his former teammates.

But over the course of the week, much of the dialogue between him and his teammates has been all business.

“The conversations between me and Mike have been very positive,” Ingersoll said. “He’s not someone to get into trash talk. He’s realistic and always, ‘Hey we’re going to come out and play you guys, I’m really excited.’ And they look pretty good.”

Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.