Christian Ferrara considers it a blessing, and at first glance, it’s hard to imagine why.

Against Brigham Young, the Syracuse defensive tackle badly twisted his left knee while scrambling to recover a fumble, sidelining him for the next two games. But that gave Ferrara time to recover from a torn left biceps he suffered in the spring.

Now, Ferrara plans to make his return at Auburn on Saturday.

“I hate being hurt, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise,” Ferrara said. “My arm is 100 percent now, too.”

Although Ferrara played through the ailment in the season opener, he said the arm was only 75 or 80 percent in that game.

Ferrara returned to practice last week and, after limited action early, he went full speed by Thursday. When he returns Saturday, he will wear a brace on his left knee.

Defensive end Josh Thomas, who has also missed the last two games, with torn muscles in his left foot, may join Ferrara in the starting lineup this weekend. Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni stopped short of saying Thomas would play, but the junior is listed as the starter on a depth chart released yesterday.

Ferrara sounded confident he and Thomas would complete the starting defensive line for the first time in a month.

“I’m just looking forward to getting together with my 10 guys again, it’s like my family,” Ferrara said. “I can’t wait to be out there again.”

“We’d like to have everyone in the right spot, healthy and playing well,” Pasqualoni said. “That hasn’t happened yet.”

As a result, Syracuse has shifted personnel along its defensive line, using Julian Pollard and James Wyche at left end. Sophomore Brian Hooper filled in for Ferrara.

***

Buh Bye

Considering Latroy Oliver exhaled and smiled at the mere mention of the off week, one could guess a weekend of refreshment and relaxation was much needed.

“Yeah, for real,” Oliver said.

But did Syracuse want a bye one week after pummeling Rhode Island, finding some flow on offense and building chemistry on defense? Sure the week affords players a chance to heal physically and relax mentally, but does it also break momentum?

“You never know how it’s going to play out because you never know how you’re going to play after an off-week,” Pasqualoni said. “Because we had three tough games, it was probably a good time. It gives us time to work on some things both defensively and offensively, and some fundamentals. Hopefully the guys will come out physically and mentally refreshed.”

To help with that, some players trekked home. Oliver left for his house in Hartford, Conn., on Friday and returned Sunday.

“It did us some good,” Oliver said, “because we got a chance to refocus ourselves and get ready for the rest of the season.”

Perhaps most important, the week off allowed Syracuse to gameplan Auburn for two weeks. The Tigers, meanwhile, played Thursday, beating Mississippi State, 42-14.

***

Bring it

Syracuse seemed unimpressed with Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn’s 86,063-seat stadium that has a reputation for rowdy fans and hostile atmospheres.

Auburn is 228-55-7 all-time at Jordan-Hare. Since the start of the 2000 season, the Tigers are 14-1.

“It’s just another place to play,” quarterback R.J. Anderson said, “with a lot of angry fans.”

“I love the big crowds,” Ferrara said. “I love the people taunting you, yelling at you. It gets you jacked up. I love it.”

***

This and that

Pasqualoni said wide receiver Johnnie Morant, who served a suspension for violating team rules against Rhode Island, practiced this week. Pasqualoni would not comment, though, on whether Morant would play against Auburn. Morant did not practice the week prior to the Rhode Island game. Syracuse had listed him doubtful against URI with a shoulder injury.

Published on September 23, 2002 at 12:00 pm