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GREENSBORO -- The "high ankle sprain," which joined the layman's sports medicine lexicon at about the same time as "sports hernia," often is preceded by the word "dreaded" in media accounts. It is an injury to ligaments that connect the tibia and fibula, and that makes it more troublesome than the conventional -- i.e. non-dreaded -- sprain, which afflicts different ligaments.

And that's pretty much all Michael Ferguson wants to know about the subject.

After missing this past week's loss to Coastal Carolina, N.C. A&T's top tailback intends to resume an excellent season when the Aggies (2-3, 0-2 MEAC) face N.C. Central (0-4) in Charlotte on Saturday.

If Ferguson and his coaches are spewing such terms as syndesmosis (the medical term for a high ankle sprain) by the end of the week, you can consider them well educated and unhappy, for the issue will still be paramount. If, on the other hand, they're talking about first downs and off-tackle running, all will be well.

Asked to describe the nuances of Ferguson's ailment on Monday, coach Lee Fobbs said, "I wasn't in school that day."

Fair enough.

The condition isn't new, of course; it's just that terminology released to the masses has gotten more specific as thirst for knowledge has increased.

At any rate, Fobbs made an easy call in sitting Ferguson against the Chanticleers and boosting the senior's chances of facing Central. That's no knock on Coastal, which has created an exceptionally competitive football program from nothing in short order; it's a reflection of the stakes involved in facing a rival that has been on the schedule for most of the past 80 years. If playing Paducah compromises a singer's ability to charm Chicago, then the vocal chords get a rest in Kentucky.

And there is no doubt that Ferguson is the Aggies' front man. He's one of 14 active NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) players with 10 or more 100-yard games in his career, and he still has a good shot to break the school record for career rushing yardage.

Since Ferguson went down in the first half of a loss at Hampton two weeks ago, the Aggies have struggled. They managed fewer than 200 yards of total offense against the Pirates and against Coastal, and while Dione McNair is a credible backup, he's going to be at his best when entering the game as Ferguson's fresh replacement.

Ferguson returned to the Hampton game, but was ruled out of last week's contest 48 hours before kickoff.

To hasten his recovery, he will wear a red (no-contact) jersey this week in practice.

"Mike is going to get two or three treatments a day," Fobbs said. "He's not going to settle for one or two. We'll keep an eye on him this week. He has already told me he's ready to go, but we'll make the right decision."

Contact Rob Daniels at 373-7028 or rob.daniels@news-record.com