OU's Peterson seeks return to freshman form / LJWorld.com

Archive for Saturday, October 7, 2006

The Associated Press

October 7, 2006

Norman, Okla. — Adrian Peterson got out the razor and shaved off the thin layer of hair atop his head, opting for the Michael Jordan look.

Heading into the Red River Rivalry today against No. 7 Texas, the Oklahoma tailback wasn't paying homage to his favorite athlete. Peterson had something else in mind.

"Maybe a flashback from my freshman year," he said.

That's when Peterson emerged as a star, running for 225 yards in Oklahoma's 12-0 win against Texas. He ran for 44 yards the second time he touched the ball that day in Dallas, and was on his way to finishing second in the 2004 Heisman Trophy voting.

Peterson's second go-round at the Texas State Fair wasn't so memorable. An ankle sprain limited him to only three carries for 10 yards, and he had to watch most of Oklahoma's 45-12 loss last year from the sidelines.

"It was a tough week for me just trying to go out there on my ankle, trying to make myself believe that I was there to play," Peterson said. "Really, deep down inside I knew it was going to be kind of hard to go out there and play."

That's not the case this year. Peterson says he's healthy and "ready to go down there and get rolling" for the Sooners (3-1) in their showdown today with Texas.

The Longhorns (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) will be ready and waiting.

"There's no sweet way of putting it," defensive end Brian Robison said. "He ran all over us (in 2004). We know last year is over, and he's going to be going full force."

Peterson said the main thing he remembered about that 2004 game was that he ran hard and stuck to his assignments.

"I really didn't know I had 225 until after the game," he said.

Peterson didn't get into the end zone that day but still did plenty of damage. His runs helped set up both of Oklahoma's field goals and the game's only touchdown, a run by Kejuan Jones.

The Longhorns know what to expect.

"He still does the same thing he's always done," said defensive tackle Frank Okam, who first met Peterson at a high school All-American. "He lines up nine yards back, runs downhill and doesn't make a move until he crosses the line of scrimmage."

The Longhorns enter with the No. 2 rush defense in the nation, allowing only 36.6 yards per game, and held Ohio State to 79 yards rushing in a 24-7 loss to the Buckeyes in Austin last month.