Wed April 19, 2006
OU looked into Peterson’s car deal
By George Schroeder
The Oklahoman
NORMAN - Oklahoma officials recently reviewed a car deal involving star tailback Adrian Peterson, but ultimately found it to be legitimate
No NCAA violations were discovered in Peterson's aborted purchase of a late-model Lexus from a Norman car dealer. Peterson's mother said he drove the car for several weeks last winter before returning it, but officials from OU's compliance department determined that the practice was not out of the ordinary for customers of Big Red Sports and Imports.
During the course of the review, OU officials considered several potential penalties, including a one-game suspension. But since it was determined Peterson had not received an extra benefit - defined by the NCAA as something provided to a student-athlete that is not available to the general student body of the university - no punishment will be levied.
Citing federal privacy legislation, OU officials declined specific comment about Peterson, who will be a junior next fall and is expected to be a leading contender for the Heisman Trophy. But in a statement released Tuesday by the school, associate athletic director Keith Gill acknowledged OU had initiated and conducted the review.
"We have pursued the matter in exhaustive fashion over a five-month period," Gill said in the statement. "Based on the information we have gathered, we do not believe NCAA rules violations have occurred."
OU officials also questioned Big Red's employment of football players, but found no violations. They do not intend to file a report with the NCAA. However, it is possible the NCAA could decide to investigate.
Brad McRae, who until recently was a part-owner of Big Red, said Peterson signed a sales contract several months ago to buy the Lexus. Peterson's mother, Bonita Jackson, said she had heard many rumors in recent weeks and months about the deal.
"I've heard a lot of different stories," Jackson said. "None of them are true."
Jackson said her son returned the car because the family determined it would not be able to afford the monthly payments. McRae said the dealership regularly allowed customers who signed contracts to drive the cars for a period of time before financing had been secured.
"We didn't do anything wrong," McRae said. "Is it standard operating business practice? Yes, it's standard operating business practice."
McRae was recently "fired or quit, however you want to put it," he said, because of a dispute with Big Red's majority owner. The dealership was then sold to the Hudiburg Auto Group of Oklahoma City. McRae said his departure and the subsequent sale was not related to OU or Peterson.
McRae said in recent weeks he had heard plenty of rumors, including one that many OU players were driving cars from Big Red. OU officials had heard the rumors, as well, and received at least one call to a compliance hotline maintained to allow the public to provide tips.
Most of the rumors concerned Peterson's aborted car deal. Peterson could not be reached Tuesday for comment, but his mother and step-father said the car deal was legitimate.
According to McRae and Jackson, Peterson had his mother's permission to purchase the Lexus, and financing had been secured.
"We were gonna purchase the car, but the payments were gonna be too high, so we took the car back," Jackson said.
Peterson's step-father said Tuesday his family was committed to keeping Peterson eligible for football.
"This is our child's future," Frankie Jackson said. "We don't want anything to happen to him because of some silly car deal. We're not going to do anything to jeopardize his future."
Last fall, Peterson was forced to sit out two practices after missing too many classes, triggering the punishment phase of OU's class attendance policy for athletes. Had he missed any more classes in the fall semester, he would have been suspended for the next game.
OU officials are prevented by privacy laws from discussing Peterson's status in regard to the class attendance. However, sources said Peterson has not had further class attendance problems.
