Stoops on Peterson: 'He was different. It wasn't close'
Published: 12/28/2012 8:59 AM
Last Modified: 12/28/2012 8:59 AM
As the football world goes on Adrian Peterson Watch – the Vikings cyborg needs 208 yards against Green Bay Sunday to break Eric Dickerson's single-season NFL rushing record – Bob Stoops recalls something from Peterson's Oklahoma past:
"You watched him play and he was different than everybody. It wasn't close. He gets here and you could tell the buzz of the players. I'm not out there watching workouts, but I'm walking through the halls and the kids are like, 'Coach…'
"No matter what conditioning drill we ever did, he was always first and it didn't matter the situation. He was always first.
"I remember Allen Patrick was pretty competitive. He would be creeping up on (Peterson) and he'd see him and hit another gear. He wasn't gonna let anybody beat him. He's just different. Everybody knows that and sees it again. This isn't the first time they're seeing it.
"To go with the amazing physical ability, he's so competitive and tough mentally. That's what separates him."
To threaten such a hallowed record just one year after ruining his left knee?
"Pretty amazing," Stoops said. "But if anybody could do it, it would be him. He's not like everybody. We said that when he was here. He would say, 'I don't heal like everybody. I'm different.' He'll tell you that."
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
