STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal star | Posted: Saturday, October 22, 2005 7:00 pm
Although Oklahoma All-American tailback Adrian Peterson’s playing status for this week remains unclear, Sooner coaches weren’t exactly in panic mode Sunday as they began preparing for Saturday’s game at Nebraska.
Peterson, second in the Heisman Trophy balloting last season, sat out of Oklahoma’s 37-30 double-overtime triumph over Baylor on Saturday night because of a nagging high ankle sprain suffered in the Sooners’ season opener.
In Peterson’s absence, sophomore Jacob Gutierrez rushed 30 times for 173 yards, and transfer Allen Patrick added 49 yards on 15 attempts.
“We just don’t feel like we missed a beat with those guys in there,” Oklahoma offensive coordinator Chuck Long said Sunday.
That’s saying something considering the 6-foot-2, 211-pound Peterson last season finished No. 3 nationally with 1,925 rushing yards in helping lead Oklahoma to a 12-1 record and Big 12 championship. His coaches hold out hope he’ll be ready to play extensively Saturday when the Sooners (4-3, 3-1 Big 12) come to town for an 11 a.m. game at Memorial Stadium.
Peterson is getting “closer and closer” to full strength, Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said Sunday.
“His percentages of playing this week are better,” Stoops said. “With these ankle sprains, it’s tough to know.”
Whether Peterson plays against Nebraska (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) probably will come down to a “gut feeling” by the coaching staff, Stoops said.
Meanwhile, Stoops joined Long in praising Oklahoma’s backup tailbacks, especially the 5-foot-6, 185-pound Gutierrez. His running style and body type elicit memories of former Sooner Quentin Griffin, fourth on the school’s all-time career rushing chart.
“If we had a No. 22 on (Gutierrez), everybody would think (Griffin) was back on the team,” Stoops said.
A native of San Antonio, Gutierrez on the season has rushed 44 times for 238 yards (5.4 per carry) and two touchdowns. The 6-foot, 200-pound Patrick, who only a month ago was playing safety, has carried 17 times for 53 yards.
“He’s a tough, hard-nosed guy,” Stoops said.
Oklahoma senior tailback Kejuan Jones will return to action this week after sitting out the Baylor game for violating team policy, Stoops said. The 5-9, 189-pound Jones has rushed 54 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Oklahoma climbed above .500 for the first time this season with Saturday’s win over Baylor. Redshirt freshman quarterback Rhett Bomar fired a 21-yard touchdown pass to wideout Juaquin Iglesias in the second overtime, capping Bomar’s best game of the season. He completed 24 of 42 passes for 269 yards as OU racked up 474 total yards.
“The guy’s going to be awfully good, I believe,” Stoops said of Bomar.
Reach Steven M. Sipple at 473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.