Think he might be up for that one?
By Berry Tramel
NORMAN -- Adrian Peterson's father, incarcerated since his son was in the seventh grade, has been moved to a halfway house in Dallas and has a projected release date of Oct. 5.
Two days later, in that same city, the Oklahoma Sooners play Texas in the Cotton Bowl.
"If everything goes good, he should be there," the OU tailback said. "It's going to be crazy, being able to look in the stands, see him. Maybe be the extra drive I'll need."
Nelson Peterson was convicted on federal charges of laundering money acquired from the distribution of crack cocaine. He was sentenced to the Federal Correctional Institute in Texarkana, Texas, and hasn't seen his son play football since, other than televised games.
But Nelson and Adrian have remained close.
"His father's still been a strong influence on his life," said OU coach Bob Stoops. "Under difficult circumstances, he has helped discipline with Adrian, has been a big factor with Adrian, has stayed in close contact with him.
"I've talked with Nelson on occasion. He's been nothing but supportive for his son."
Adrian Peterson on occasion has revealed guidance he has received from his father, either through phone calls or prison visits to Texarkana.
Last season, during which Peterson was bothered by nagging injuries after an All-American year as a 2004 freshman, Peterson told The Oklahoman of wisdom imparted by his father. Success, Nelson Peterson told his son, is like a light switch, "Any moment, the light switch can be cut off. It was cut off for a while. Now that I'm back, I'm gonna go out there and hopefully get it cut back on."
Stoops said the release of Nelson Peterson should be a positive for Adrian.
"To have an opportunity to meet with him during the week, being close by, has to be a great thing," Stoops said. "I look at it as a big positive.
"More than anything, it will help him as a young man, having another support figure right here he can visit with and that can help him.
"Let's face it, Adrian has a lot of demands and expectation and whatnot. So he has somebody that he's close to that he's got a chance to share with."
Adrian Peterson remains close with his mother and stepfather, who during Peterson's freshman year at OU moved to Purcell from Palestine, Texas, where Peterson went to high school and where he has a daughter.
In a teleconference Thursday, Peterson was asked what motivates him during summer workouts.
"A lot of things motivate me," he said. "My dad, my parents, my daughter. I want to do good for them."
Nelson Peterson was a standout basketball player at Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, in 1982. He signed with OU and coach Billy Tubbs but never arrived in Norman. Peterson ended up playing at Idaho State.
Originally Posted by BlondeSoonerGirl
