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The Syracuse quarterback was booed by his home fans Saturday. His head coach got weepy-eyed defending him On Tuesday, Paulus said no, he doesn't want to read Doug Marrone's words or watch Marrone's eyes well up. After all, that's what's gotten him here.

"It's a matter of getting ready for Pittsburgh," he said. "That's the task at hand."

As one day of turmoil turned into a second, Paulus coolly continued what has by all accounts appeared to be a very well-practiced, studious ignorance of anything but, well, the task at hand. On a conference call Tuesday afternoon, he politely -- and completely -- ignored two questions about the team's response to his best target's abrupt quitting of the team. He evaded a query about that booing he suffered in Syracuse's loss to undefeated Cincinnati and he turned one about his own psyche into a treatise on Marrone's passion.

It was all exactly why Marrone on Monday pulled out a prepared statement and then said, "I truly, truly, truly thank him for being here. And I hope my kids grow up to have the courage and determination of a Greg Paulus."

Marrone's own determination has likely taken a few dings in the last few days. He had to announce that wideout Mike Williams, perhaps his best player and a Biletnikoff finalist as one of the country's best, quit his team in that same Monday news conference. As rumblings began over the 20 players ho've quit the first-year coach's program, Marrone issued a release announcing the suspension of three other players, tailback Antwon Bailey, defensive end Torrey Ball and offensive guard Andrew Tiller. Then came word that those three players, and Williams, were rear-ended by a tractor trailer on the New York State Thruway at 5:30 a.m. Sunday morning on a route between Syracuse and the Turning Stone casino.

It's only the latest in what's turned this inaugural season into a slog. The early excitement Marrone's barnstorming generated has dissipated as the losses have mounted. A Carrier Dome that was nearly sold out for Marrone's opener was largely empty for this past weekend's visit by no. 5 Cincinnati. Except for, of course, of the boo birds, who cheered Paulus' backup Ryan Nassib's every entry to the game and lustily booed every Paulus return.

"I have never seen an athlete, at any level including the NFL, work as hard, mentally and physically, as Greg has worked since he's joined us here at Syracuse," Marrone said. "Really, what he's accomplished is extraordinary."

He said Paulus has exceeded expectations, he called the graduate student a victim of his own success and he reminded fans that the Syracuse native "is one of us."

To which Paulus succinctly said Tuesday, "I appreciated Coach saying those things."

Paulus was in class during Marrone's news conference. He met with him afterwards, Paulus said, and Marrone went over what he said. And when pressed about hearing that all directly, Paulus simply said, "He's very passionate about what he does and he's passionate about his players and he's passionate about this university and especially about his family. I heard he got even more passionate when he was talking about his family and his kids so that's the kind of guy he is. He's a great coach and he's an even better person."

Paulus wouldn't say if that impassioned defense offered him any extra security, or if any of the recent turmoil re-colored his decision to transfer from Duke and take up football, a sport he hasn't played in five years. He sidestepped the questions of drama and he inserted answers to questions he'd rather have heard than the ones he did hear.

On the home fans' booing, he said, "I came from a place with great fans and there are great fans here at Syracuse. Going on the road you hear different kinds of reaction. I'm used to playing in environments where it's very hostile. It's always great to come home and play for the home fans."

On Williams' departure: "We have a great opportunity ahead of ourselves playing Pittsburgh. They're ranked pretty high, they've had a lot of success and we're focusing on Pittsburgh and that's where this team's at."

On his teammates' reaction to Williams' departure: "The opportunity is there for guys to make plays. And there's an opportunity for guys to step up and show what they can do, that's what we need to do and that's what we're going to do. Guys are really anxious and excited about having that opportunity."

Call it a tunnel vision. Or focus. Whatever it is, Marrone could sure use a lot more of it this week.