In 2009, Doug Marrone took over a Syracuse football program that had gone 10-37 in its previous four seasons, including a 3-25 mark in the Big East. Marrone needed a quarterback for his first season, and got a one-year rental with graduate student and former star Duke basketball player Greg Paulus. The Orange went 4-8 that year, but it got things started for Syracuse to get back on track. Marrone went 25-25 in four seasons, and has now returned to the NFL as head coach of the Bills.

Marrone faces a similar situation, just at the pro level. Buffalo holds the NFL’s longest playoff drought and has not won more than six games since 2008. He also has to answer a question at quarterback: Will Ryan Fitzpatrick start in Week One, or will a rookie, possibly Marrone’s QB at Syracuse, Ryan Nassib, or a free agent like Alex Smith?

In ’09, as Marrone’s first quarterback at Syracuse, Paulus completed 67.7 percent of his passes and threw 13 touchdowns. He got a glimpse of what Bills players will see in the coming months.

“From the first time I met (Marrone) to today, everything he has done has been first class,” Paulus told PFW. “After you meet him and spend time with him, you want to run through a wall for him.”

Paulus had a tryout with the Saints after college, and then began his current career path as a basketball coach. He is the video coordinator for Ohio State’s men’s basketball team. Paulus described the philosophies Marrone brought to Syracuse.

“Discipline and accountability,” he said. “He brought toughness elements, work ethic and his experience — coming from the NFL and developing great players in the NFL.