Post Oklahoma AD Era - Adrian's Final Chapter
One of Oklahoma's greatest running backs to play at one of the state colleges, includes the likes of Barry Sanders, Joe Washington, Thurman Thomas, Steve Owens took the big-leap into the NFL Draft, Adrian Peterson. The man, Sooner Nation grew to love and call AD. Peterson's three-years at the University of Oklahoma was a storied One.. Here's a look back...
1/3/04 - One of the most touted recruits in recent history. The Texas native declares at U.S. Army All-American Bowl he's crossing state lines, committing to Bob Stoops and the Oklahoma Sooners. Peterson picked Oklahoma over Miami, USC, UCLA, Texas and Texas A&M.
1/25/04 - The first rumors about Adrian Peterson, that Peterson had decommitted from Oklahoma to commit to Texas A&M. Rumors are proven to be false.
2/4/04 - Oklahoma Sooners put together a highly touted recruiting class, including the nation's top recruit, Palestine, Texas' Adrian Peterson. Peterson comes to help a rushing offense that ranked 65th in 2003.
8/04 - Adrian Peterson suffers the first of three injures. A slight shoulder injury in a fall scrimmage, although, still plays the season opener. The injury likely prevents the freshman from starting the season opener.
9/5/04 - The freshman in his first collegiate game against Bowling Green carries 16 rushes for 100 yards and one touchdown. Some concern, Peterson fumbled out of bounds on two of his first six carries, howeve rushed on a 35-yard touchdown carry.
9/12/04 - Peterson rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries against Houston.
9/19/04 - The freshman star breakout game, Adrian Peterson ran for 183 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the first Oklahoma freshman to run for at least 100 yards in each of his first three games. The Sooners ease past Oregon 31-7.
9/30/04 - The young running back, Peterson earns high praises "I heard he was special, and so far he's proved that," Former Oklahoma head coach, Barry Switzer told the USA Today.
10/2/04 - Adrian Peterson makes his first start against Texas Tech for the injured Kejuan Jones. Peterson ran for 146 yards and a touchdown.
10/9/04 - Peterson returned to his native Texas to run all over the Longhorns, 225 yards on 32 rushes. #2 Oklahoma win 12-0 over Texas. The true freshman starts his career with five 100-yard games.
10/10/04 - The first Heisman talks begin nationally, although whispers at the time.. The USA Today names Peterson the Player of the Week.
10/16/04 - Peterson rushed 36 times for 130 yards against Kansas State in 31-21 victory. The freshman Peterson is averaging 6.5 yards per carry. The nation learns of the nickname AD - All Day.
10/23/04 - Peterson Heisman watch begins, the freshman rushed 22 times for 122 yards and a TD against Kansas. It was Peterson's seventh career 100-yard game in seven starts. Becoming the quickest freshmen in NCAA to 1,000 yards, surpassing Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk.
10/30/04 - Carrying the load against Oklahoma State, Peterson rushed for 249 yards and one TD on 33 carries. Lifting the Sooners past the Cowboys 38-35 in Stillwater, Oklahoma's championship march continues. Peterson moves inside the top three candidates in some Heisman ballots. As AD surpasses the freshman Oklahoma record 1,184 yards set by De'Mond Parker in 1996.
11/6/04 - Peterson was average (finally the freshman appears), against the Aggies in a 42-35 Oklahoma victory. Although late, Peterson injured his shoulder managing to rush for 101 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, his ninth straight 100-yard game.
11/13/04 - Adrian enters the week number one on ESPN.com's Heisman watch, leading teammate and '03 winner Jason White. Peterson played despite an arm injury against Texas A&M the previous week. Peterson carried a light load in a victory over Nebraska 30-3. AD only carried 15 times on 58 yards, Peterson's first game under 100-yards.
11/20/04 - Peterson back at it. Carried 32 times for 240 yards and three second-half touchdowns as the Sooners rolled past the Baylor Bears 35-0. Peterson remained atop ESPN.com's Heisman Watch.
12/2/04 - Freshman Adrian Peterson gets the New York Heisman Invite, an opportunity to become the first freshmen to win the award.
12/4//04 - Oklahoma handles Colorado 42-3 to compete for the National Championship. Peterson continued he's amazing freshman campaign, rushing 178 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries in a Big 12 Championship.
12/11/04 - The 19-year-old freshman running back, rushed for 1,843 yards and 15 touchdowns. Peterson rushed 11 games over 100 yards -- an NCAA record. Adrian finished second behind USC Matt Leinart only 328 points received 997 points, becoming the highest voted freshman in the history of the Heisman Trophy.
1/2-1/4/05 - Days before BCS Championship game, Peterson spoke of why he chose Oklahoma over USC. "I had a little too much fun. I went to the clubs, had the opportunity to meet Leonardo DiCaprio. I just made the best decision for me. Either way I would have won considering we are both playing for the National Championship. My parents never pressured me during the decision," Peterson told reporters, days later. Oklahoma was dominated against USC in the Orange Bowl 55-19. In Peterson's only National Championship game, AD had only 82 yards on 25 carries and zero touchdowns. In one of AD's only game that "mattered," in which he was called the difference maker, he failed.. Peterson finished with 1,925 yards and an early leader in the Heisman watch ahead of Reggie Bush for 2005. AD improved the Oklahoma rushing offense from 65th to 16th in the nation.
1/1705 - Peterson undergoes surgery on his shoulder, will miss entire spring practices after dislocating his shoulder in fall practices then against Texas A&M... A month later, Peterson graces the front page of ESPN the Magazine "NEXT" Edition.
8/4-8/5/05 - After big preseason expectations, SI ranks AD #1 running back, Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the year, Maxwell Watchlist and etc... AD is cleared to practice and joins his Sooners teammates later practicing full contact doesn't lose a step.
9/3/05 - In a continuing story at Oklahoma, Peterson faced another injury.. Oklahoma's Peterson injured his ankle in the second half against TCU in Oklahoma's second straight lose 17-10. Peterson only rushed 63 yards on the ground in 22 carries, reaching the end zone only once.... Oklahoma's season looked in doubt early on..
9/10/05 - Peterson regained his form against Tulsa. As AD rushed 220 yards and three touchdowns, as Oklahoma rolled past Tulsa 31-15.
9/17/05 - After missing classes, Peterson sat out the first couple drives against UCLA. Peterson against the Bruins rushed 58 yards on 23 carries adding only one TD.
9/24/05 - Peterson injured his ankle late in the first half, resulted in Peterson only rushing 51 yards on 8 carries and one TD. The ankle injury would effect his play for a third of the season... Meanwhile, Peterson watch is on in Sooner Nation.
10/29/05 - He's BACK. Adrian Peterson ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns. As Oklahoma defeated Nebraska 31-24, teammates call Peterson the "difference maker." While injured, Peterson's 36-yard TD run on his second play from scrimmage totaled more yards than his last four games combined.
11/12/05 - Peterson followed the Oklahoma State game up with 135-yard performance on 27 carries and two touchdowns. As Oklahoma edged Texas A&M 36-30.
11/19/05 - Oklahoma was handed a tough lose at Lubbock 23-21, Peterson rushed 108 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries with two scores.
11/26/05 - Oklahoma rolls Oklahoma State 42-14. Peterson put in a 237-yard effort, putting the sophomore over 1,000 the second consecutive season.
12/28/05 - The Sooners went to defeat the Oregon Ducks in the Holiday Bowl 17-14, Peterson rushed 84 yards on 23 carries. In the process, AD became the first Sooner running back to reach 3,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons.
4/06 - Peterson and the Sooners reported to practice and Peterson's first public statement on early draft entry. Peterson telling the Oklahoman, "Anything can happen. Injuries or whatever - God's will they don't. "I'm not worried about that. I'm focused on this season and making a run back to the Big 12 championship and hopefully a chance for the national championship." And beyond that? "I could see myself being here," Peterson said. "I ain't even really been think-ing about that. Plus, we're playing Miami. "I'm looking forward to playing Miami, too." Only does college football wish, AD returned to play The U.
4/19/06 - Adrian Peterson's car trouble. In a near mistake, Peterson returned a new car he may of received special treatment from the same car dealership, which violated NCAA regulations with quarterback Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn. The NCAA later cleared Oklahoma and Peterson of any infractions.
9/2/06 - After the preseason hype, yet again. Preseason Player of the Year, watchlist that, among the most popular searched players, and so-on. Peterson started his junior effort 139 yards on 24 carries and one score as Oklahoma defeated UAB 24-17. In the locker room Peterson is criticized by Offense coordinator Kevin Wilson, "I told him after the game, 'If you're a man, you need to go in and tell those guys you didn't play your best.' He was dancing too much early, he's looking for big plays instead of sticking it, being decisive and making great cuts," Wilson said.
9/9/06 - In a Oklahoma win over Washington 37-20. Adrian Peterson ran for 165 yards and two scores. Peterson's 165-yard effort placed him past Stanley Wilson for sixth place on Oklahoma's all-time rushing list.
9/12/06 - Peterson BACK only.. Adrian Peterson told the media his goals, were to win a National Championship and a Heisman. "My goals when I got here were win a national championship first and then have an opportunity to win the Heisman," Peterson said. "Those are things I want to do, but the only thing right now I know for a fact that would keep me back next year is a major injury. God willing, that won't happen."
9/16/06 - In the controversy Oklahoma lose to Oregon 34-33, Adrian Peterson ran it 34 times and 211 yards. It was his fifth career game with more than 200 yards.
9/23/06 - In a Oklahoma rout over Middle Tennessee 59-0. The Sooners' Peterson ran 127 yards on 27 carries reaching the end zone three occasions. AD on the year has rushed for 643 yards and 7 touchdowns.
10/7/06 - Peterson and Oklahoma were handed 28-10 Texas defeat. #28 ran 25 times for 109 yards and one score.
10/14/06 - Major blow to Peterson and Oklahoma. In Adrian Peterson's first game with his father in attendance suffered a near season ending injury in the fourth quarter, as Oklahoma defeated Iowa State 34-9. Peterson's Oklahoma career appeared over, the Peterson watch begins again... Sooner Nation later learns, Peterson is expected out 4-6 weeks.
10-12/06 - During all the speculation on Peterson's injury and draft status, Oklahoma's running game never misses a beat. The Sooners prove Oklahoma wasn't about one individual, instead about one team.. The Sooners end the Season as Big XII Champions and BCS Bowl Bound.
1/1/07 - Adrian Peterson entered the Fiesta Bowl 151 yards away from breaking Billy Sims' Oklahoma career rushing record of 4,118 yards. In one of College Football's most storied games, Peterson rushed 77 yards and two touchdowns in an Oklahoma overtime Boise State lose 42-43.
In the days leading up to the NFL Draft deadline, I believed I was one of the very few that thought Adrian would return. Peterson had not achieved everything he set out for, the trophies, the ring and all likelihood not the overall #1 selection. After all, he will achieve the most important, the young man providing for his family and achieving the goal of reaching the NFL. You can't but like the story Adrian Peterson left us college football fans, the great memories for Oklahoma fans, the adversity the young man from Texas that later went north to lead Sooner Nation.
It was fun watching such an electrifying superstar, playing at the top of his level every game.
