Paulus, self-proclaimed "ringleader"
Mike Paulus, in an interview with the News & Record last night, cast himself as the key to holding UNC's '07 recruiting class together. And he says he has told AD Dick Baddour as much. See today's story here.
"It seemed like it really did matter to him," Paulus said. "He understands I'm the ringleader, and if I de-commit, others might step back."
So, basically, Paulus is on the search committee for a new coach, even if unofficially. He wants Dave Brock and/or Frank Cignetti Jr. to remain on the staff. That probably isn't happening, but a pass-minded offensive coach would probably be a suitable hire to keep Paulus from bolting to Oklahoma, Florida State or somewhere else. He mentioned Tennessee OC David Cutcliffe, the guy who groomed Peyton Manning in Knoxville and Eli Manning at Mississippi, as someone he wouldn't mind playing for.
It appears UNC's focus is on Butch Davis, or maybe Tulsa's Steve Kragthorpe, at this point. Davis has expressed an interest, though a cynic would say he's just trying to get Paul Dee's attention at Miami (between the lines: you better hurry up and can Coker before I take another job).
Continue on for a list of the Tar Heels' '07 commitments, recruits that John Bunting's staff is trying to keep in the fold even though they're soon to be gone.
CLINGING TO COMMITMENTS
John Bunting’s UNC staff has verbal commitments from the following 2007 recruits (DT William Brimfield of Neeses, S.C., de-committed this week):
Name/ Pos./Hometown
Miguel Chavis/DE/Fayetteville (Hargrave)
Albert Craddock/LB/High Point
Emanuel Davis/S/Manteo
Mike Dykes/OL/Pittsburgh
LaCount Fantroy/CB/Washington, D.C.
Chris Gray/OL/Landrum, S.C.
Cameron Holland/OL/Pittsburgh
Ryan Houston/RB/Matthews
Fonterrian Ingram/DB/Atlanta
Dwight Jones/WR/Burlington
Jarrell Miller/LB/Highland Springs, Va. (Fork Union)
Lamar Milstead/OL/Washington, D.C.
Mike Paulus/QB/Syracuse, N.Y.
Da-Norris Searcy/LB/Decatur, Ga.
Jonathan Smith/DB/Durham
Jay Wooten/K/Laurinburg