He heard it. He felt it. And as soon as it happened, Curtis Brinkley knew his season was over.

Syracuse’s starting running back broke his fibula during the Buffalo game. He hobbled on crutches into the Manley Field House cafeteria Tuesday and spoke about how he’s handling the injury, adding that his surgery resulted in him having eight screws and a plate inserted into his right leg. Photo by Rachel Fus’>

‘Physically and emotionally,’ Brinkley said. ‘I’m in a lot of pain. Things were just starting to open up for me in the last few games, and I turn around and I break my ankle. I’m in a lot of pain right now.’

Brinkley had rushed for 40 yards on six carries Saturday before breaking his leg. The previous week, he rushed for a season-high 98 yards against Rutgers.

The junior said he has watched tape of the injury. He noted when the Buffalo defender landed on his ankle, he didn’t notice the intensity of the pain.

‘I wasn’t really focused on it,’ Brinkley said. ‘I knew this was the season right here. Emotionally, I was a wreck.’

Brinkley said he expects healing to be a 6-8 week process. Doctors told him he’ll be on crutches for a month, a boot for a couple of weeks and after he loses the boot, the rehab process for getting him back out on the field will begin.

He said cornerback Dowayne Davis, wide receiver Mike Williams and running back Delone Carter have been helping him cope the most with the break. Carter was expected to start at halfback until he was lost for the season due to a hip injury during the spring.

‘It’s very hard coming into the building knowing I’m not going to be suiting up,’ Brinkley said. ‘Knowing I’m not going to be practicing and stuff like that. But (I’ve) just got to do it.’

Good bye

With the injuries piling up for Syracuse, last week turned into the perfect time for a bye week.

Syracuse starters like cornerback Dowayne Davis, fullback Tony Fiammetta, guard Ryan Durand and linebacker Ben Maljovec had been banged up over the last couple of weeks, but it seems the week off will help the players heal in time for the Pittsburgh game at noon this Saturday at Heinz Field.

‘We needed the bye week exactly when we had it,’ wide receiver Mike Williams said. ‘They went down and we needed them back. If we had played this Saturday, we would’ve been without them.’

Williams noted it would’ve been nice to keep the momentum rolling after a win, and it felt strange to have the week off. But with all the injuries, Williams concluded it was best for the team to finally receive some rest.

On Tuesday, SU head coach Greg Robinson emphasized the importance of both physical and mental rest over the break, though he added the team maintained conditioning during the days off. He anticipates having most of the injured starters back in the lineup by Saturday but said the status remains iffy on some of the other beat up players.

‘As far as what we know about who is coming back,’ Robinson said, ‘we know that we have Dowayne Davis back. We haven’t been in full pads yet, but I do think that Tony Fiammetta will be back with us. From there, I think we’ll have to play it by ear. We’ll know more as the week progresses.’

Vengeance on Suter’s mind

Whether he’s returning kicks or playing safety, freshman Max Suter hopes to do some showing off back home in Pittsburgh.

The western Pennsylvania native was never offered a scholarship by his local college. Now as one of Syracuse’s most dynamic freshmen, Suter is looking for some revenge at Heinz Field, the stadium in which he played a national championship game in high school.

‘I’ve been waiting for this game all season,’ Suter said. ‘They didn’t give me a scholarship or anything, so I’m looking to shine in this game and show they really missed the boat.’

It’s not hostility, though, for Suter. He’ll be meeting up with former teammates and high school friends. He and high school teammate and SU backup quarterback Cody Catalina should have their own cheering section against Pitt.

‘There’s probably about 25 to 40 people I know asking for tickets,’ Suter said. ‘And my parents helped get them tickets. I’m sure a lot of people form my old high school said they were coming. And I know Cody has a bunch of people coming. It should be pretty cool after the game getting to see them and everything.’

Published on October 31, 2007 at 12:00 pm