DaMN "Policy could sideline OU's Peterson"

gruu · September 16, 2005

Man... Adrian should make his tutors show up to his classes. That would be a shame that "he" would miss another class...

Policy could sideline OU's Peterson

12:45 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 14, 2005

By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

NORMAN, Okla. – Standout running back Adrian Peterson may be close to being suspended for one game by Oklahoma officials for missing too much class time.

A new athletic department policy went into affect this semester that penalizes athletes for unexcused absences in class, OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said.

If an athlete misses three classes in any one course, he or she receives only a warning, according to the new policy. But if the athlete misses another class in any other course, that person is held out of two practices.

If the athlete misses a fifth class in any course, he or she will be held out of athletic competition.

OU officials, citing privacy concerns, would not comment on Peterson's specific situation. But the sophomore was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday.

Coach Bob Stoops would only say that Peterson has "class attendance issues," but an OU source confirmed that Peterson has missed at least four classes to trigger the first penalty. Stoops said Monday, as of now, Peterson should play Saturday.

It's an indication that Peterson could be held out of a game if he misses another class. OU has people on staff who go around campus making sure athletes are in attendance.

"Overall, they're here first to get an education, regardless of what anybody says," Stoops said. "I think we do our best around the country, not just here, to get that done. But the guys also have to do their part."

Castiglione said there was an appeal process and that mitigating circumstances could force an athlete to have an unexcused absence. But the policy's intent, Castiglione said, was to encourage academic progress and graduation.

Underdogs? No. 21 Oklahoma enters this week's game against UCLA in a strange position – the underdog.

The Sooners, who won last week but still fell in both national polls, are 6 ½ -point underdogs as they prepare to head west for a nonconference clash with the 2-0 Bruins. Players and coaches agree that this game could set the tone for the rest of the season.

E-mail brdavis@dallasnews.com

posiesnivy · September 16, 2005

The local news last night reported that Adrian Peterson would not play this Saturday. Of course it's always seems to be subject to change on a daily basis.