Star Tailback Suspended For 2 Practices

[AUloggerhead 2,253]

OU is making their "Get-Tough" academic policy for student athletes out to be a big deal, but I'm scratching my head wondering WTF is so tough about it? Adrian Peterson gets to skip the two hardest practice days in a game week but will still play in the game on Saturday. Am I missing something? What marginal student/great athlete wouldn't mind this kind of "suspension?" Link

NORMAN, Okla. -- 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 win 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 a new Oklahoma athletic department policy on class attendance implemented this year. Under the policy, obtained by The Associated Press, athletes who accumulate four unexcused absences are suspended from practice for two days. For each subsequent absence, athletes are suspended for the next scheduled competition. 

Athletes can also lose other privileges, including complimentary game admissions and athletic awards, and be excluded from competing in postseason play. Coaches can institute other attendance guidelines, as long as athletes are notified in writing at the beginning of the academic year.

Athletic director Joe Castiglione said the new approach was one of the university's strategies to improve academic performance and retention and make sure athletes are progressing toward their degrees.

"This is just one element of a number of things that we are doing," Castiglione said.

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 have 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." {OMG.  How about just telling him to stay in the classroom until the class is over?} 

After the win against Tulsa, Peterson said he was trying to become one of the team's leaders. He set an NCAA freshman record with 1,925 rushing yards and finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting, but that team had numerous senior leaders.

"That's a role I've got to pick up. Be a leader," Peterson said Saturday. "Normally, I don't say much. I just go out there and run the ball, but I know right now I'm going to have to start talking and getting the team pumped up."

When asked whether Peterson had been becoming a leader, Stoops' reaction was mixed.

"He has been in the way we work. I'm going to tell you there is not a guy who goes at it harder in the weight room in the summer and on the field. You watch him, the way he plays determined," Stoops said.

"But there are other parts of what we do here as college students and on a college team that also need to be fulfilled."

This is a joke of a disciplinary policy. No wonder Stoops had a hand in drafting it up.

[Ranger12 46]

Wow! I am impressed. I feel sorry for Peterson having to miss two practices. It is a good thing he gets to still play on Saturday. That should send a message to the rest of the team about what happens when you skip classes!

[DKW 86 7,440]

Translation: "We were blown out by USC and then lose to TCU and we better not screw up and embarass OU anymore this year. If Petersen goes pro early, my career could be over."

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

If I were Peterson, I would be skipping more classes.

He is a gamer anyway. Doesn't need the practice reps.

In a related story, the rest of the offense took two days off from practice, since "It's impossible to do anything on offense with AD."

Which leads to the question, why is Adrain Peterson known as AD? I am guessing the same reason the University of Oklahoma is known as OU.

[AWK 0]

If Peterson doesnt play Oklahoma loses, I think last week, he by himself was about 85% of their offense. You know Stoops is going to play him.

[Draven 0]

Translation: "We were blown out by USC and then lose to TCU and we better not screw up and embarass OU anymore this year. If Petersen goes pro early, my career could be over."

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Bingo how big a joke is that punishment. If i was stoops I might sit him just so when I lost to UCLA I had something to blame it on. As it looks even with pertersen OU could lose this game.

[tgr4lfe 220]

Translation: "We were blown out by USC and then lose to TCU and we better not screw up and embarass OU anymore this year. If Petersen goes pro early, my career could be over."

181411[/snapback]

Bingo how big a joke is that punishment. If i was stoops I might sit him just so when I lost to UCLA I had something to blame it on. As it looks even with pertersen OU could lose this game.

181478[/snapback]

Peterson playing is all about Stoops not wanting to lose to UCLA. He knows w/out him they will lose for sure, with no passing game. Of course, the backup RB is a senior?? UCLA could still very well beat them though as you said with him playing. Totally worthless disciplinary action.

[AUesquire 1]

Webster's Dictionary has Stoops' picture beside the phrase: "Tough Love".

This guy is a drill sergeant, I tell ya'.

[OKieAuburnDoug 1]

`AD' comes from `All day'..he got that name years ago because he could run `all day'...

[Aufan59 80]

He hasn't gone to a class All Day.

[tiger88 934]

I laughed out loud when I heard he was suspended from practice. What a horrible punishment.

[DKW 86 7,440]

He hasn't gone to a class All Day.

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