Stoops: Peterson’s status to be determined

By Jeff Latzke - Associated Press Sports Writer     Sep 14, 2005

? Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says he’ll decide later this week whether suspended tailback Adrian Peterson will start Saturday against UCLA.

“We’ll determine that as the week goes,” Stoops said Tuesday. “We’ll see. At this point, we anticipate him playing. Start or not depends on how we feel practice is going, what we feel we need to do. Depending on what further happens from here, we’ll see.”

Peterson, who rushed for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Oklahoma’s 31-15 victory against Tulsa on Saturday, was suspended from practice on Monday and Tuesday after missing classes but was allowed to participate in team meetings and other activities. He is not being allowed to speak to reporters.

Peterson’s suspension was a result of an Oklahoma athletic department policy on class attendance. Stoops said he supported the policy and even helped suggest it to Gerald Gurney, the school’s associate athletic director for academic programs.

“In the end, they’re here to go to school, and it should be our job as administrators or as coaches that if they’re not, we can’t put you on the field,” Stoops said.

Oklahoma announced the suspension in a statement sent to a limited number of news organizations following the Sooners’ closed practice Monday night. Stoops said he didn’t have to announce it at all.

“I probably shouldn’t have said (Monday), but everyone finds out anyway,” Stoops said. ” … In fairness to him, it probably doesn’t need to be me coming out and saying that. In the end, that’s the situation, and it’s better than all the rumors being around about it.”

Peterson’s suspension came nine days after the team’s starting quarterback, Rhett Bomar, was cited for possession of alcohol by a minor. Bomar is 20.

“We’re doing things discipline-wise, and everything else like we always have,” Stoops said. “That doesn’t mean it’s right or good, and it’s fair to criticize me because some teams accept it better than others and listen or are disciplined better than others. You can put it on both of us.”

Stoops said most teams had different disciplinary issues to deal with each year, and the actions by two key starters didn’t mean the school was softer in its dealings with violations.

“It’d be fair to say we’re tougher now because maybe in the past, have we taken a guy off the field for missing class?” Stoops said. “Maybe we’re more disciplined now. Maybe we’re tougher now.”

Senior tailback Kejuan Jones, who was Oklahoma’s starter before Peterson took over and has since become the backup, said he spoke with Peterson about missing class.

“That’s just one of those deals. That kind of happens to everybody,” Jones said. “He knows we’re going to need him. He’s going to play this week. I just told him to keep his head up and stay in the film room still.”

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