NORMAN, Okla. -- Nelson Peterson couldn't be there when his son played for the national title.
As Adrian Peterson was making a run at the Heisman Trophy as a freshman for Oklahoma, his father was in prison.
Nelson Peterson is a free man now, and Saturday he will get a chance to see his son play football again, when Adrian and No. 23 Oklahoma (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) host Iowa State (3-3, 0-2).
"He's been locked up for a long time," Adrian Peterson said. "He hasn't been able to step in a stadium to see me play, so I'm pretty sure he'll be a little more excited than me."
Nelson Peterson spent nearly seven years in federal prison for laundering money for the sale of drugs. He was released to an Oklahoma City halfway house this summer and was released from there last week, although he remains on probation.
That probation prevented him from attending Oklahoma's showdown with Texas last week in Dallas, which the Longhorns won 28-10. He'd also tried to attend Sooners games earlier this season but wasn't allowed.
But for Adrian, having his dad back in his life isn't just about the game his father helped him learn.
When Nelson called his son last week, something much simpler was on his mind.
"He was kind of giggling a little bit. I said, 'What's so funny?' He goes: 'I'm driving and it's nighttime,'" Adrian said. "It's the little things that people take for granted."
Sure, there's still talk of football. After all, Nelson was an assistant coach for Adrian's Little League teams and helped set him on his current course toward the NFL.
After the loss to Texas, the two had a long conversation in which Nelson told Adrian: "You've got a long season ahead. Push forward, be a leader."
"We talk football a little bit but we've got a lot of catching up to do," Adrian said. "We talk football a little bit, but it's bigger than that."
The Oklahoma tailback has said he thought he'd get a little extra boost from his father's presence. As he recalls, the last time his dad was on the sidelines for a game was for a national Little League tournament in Texarkana, Texas -- the same city where Nelson spent time in a federal prison.
But those were better times. As Adrian recalls, his team won and he was named the MVP.
"It's good my dad is going to be there and I'll be very excited and everything," Adrian said. "I'm going to be pumped up."
Even without his dad in the stands, Adrian has racked up enough yards to rank fourth in the nation in rushing with 150.4 yards per game. He has turned out five straight 100-yard games to move into second all-time at Oklahoma with 21 in his career. Only 1969 Heisman winner Steve Owens (23) had more 100-yard games for the Sooners.
And he could be set up for another big game. Besides having extra motivation to show off in front of his dad, he'll be facing the Big 12's worst rushing defense. The Cyclones are giving up 145.8 yards per game.
"I don't know that I've coached against anyone better," Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. "He is an amazing football player. No one plays harder. I don't know of any running back that has more talent than he has."
This week, it might be hard to find one with more emotion, too.
"It's a real big deal," Adrian said. "It'll be exciting this weekend. But still with that being present, you've got to take care of business. It's going to be exciting and emotional at the same time, but still I know what's in front of me and this team."
Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press
