T1B

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.

Believe the Heupel wrote:Reading comprehension must be something they don't teach in Austin.

It's not a violation because it's a regular practice for them to allow potential buyers to take vehicles home for a couple of weeks as long as the financing is being worked on.

Complete 100% non-issue.

Believe the Heupel wrote:Reading comprehension must be something they don't teach in Austin.

It's not a violation because it's a regular practice for them to allow potential buyers to take vehicles home for a couple of weeks as long as the financing is being worked on.

Complete 100% non-issue.

SunCoastSooner wrote:The family even returned it because they said they decided they couldn't afford it.

Killian wrote:When I was in High School, two kids signed to go to Michigan. The Thursday after signing day, one of the players was driving a brand new Mustang with Ann Arbor dealership plates.

Believe the Heupel wrote:Um, OK. I don't think any OU fan has said "They do it too." Guy's family was looking at buying him a Lexus. They decided they couldn't afford it just now. The school's compliance department looked at it and said that it appeared to be clean.

Believe the Heupel wrote:

WolverineSteve wrote:Keep telling yourself that. If you want to go on here and say that his family had a legit shot at financing a Lexus, please do. If you think that the "waiting for financing" period where the kid had the ride wasn't because of who he is...you're kidding yourself. If were in Austin you'd be crying out.

Standard business practice...giving expensive late model cars to star athletes, right. How many folks from his hood would get the same opportunity?

You've audited the Peterson family finances lately?

Do you have any IDEA how easy it is to finance a vehicle these days?

Harvdog wrote:

Believe the Heupel wrote:Um, OK. I don't think any OU fan has said "They do it too." Guy's family was looking at buying him a Lexus. They decided they couldn't afford it just now. The school's compliance department looked at it and said that it appeared to be clean.

Not to mention the fact that the dealership is owned by an OU alum. I know for a fact if this was a Jamaal Charles or Ramonce Taylor getting a car from a dealership in Austin called "Burnt Orange Motors" y'all would be screaming foul. Especially if it was owned by a UT alum.

WolverineSteve wrote:I can't believe this is being swept under the rug.

Do all schools partake in this behavior? Maybe. We know of a Tressel dealership that has quite a liberal financing dept.

Why should the NCAA turn a blind eye to this? Does anybody on the planet know a college kid that can afford the fucking rims on a Lexus? Securing financing my dick! This is so fucking blatant.

"They do it too." is no fucking excuse. If UM does it we deserve the penalties. Fuck these no good hood rats getting over on the systems. Too many good kids do it the right way. Going to class, getting educated. What the fuck!

Way to circle the wagons OUfan.

SunCoastSooner wrote:Dude AD's step father is by no means a poor man. His mother has a pretty nice job now as well.

Killian wrote:

SunCoastSooner wrote:Dude AD's step father is by no means a poor man. His mother has a pretty nice job now as well.

Now???? What the fuck do you mean, now?????? Is your coach Nick Nolte???? Does she have a nice house, "now", too????

Fucking bullshit.

SunCoastSooner wrote:Dude AD's step father is by no means a poor man. His mother has a pretty nice job now as well.

IndyFrisco wrote:

SunCoastSooner wrote:Dude AD's step father is by no means a poor man. His mother has a pretty nice job now as well.

Been there about 3 years now hasn't she? ;)

the_ouskull wrote:Heh. Nate Newton. That's not exactly a connection that I want made to AD.

Believe the Heupel wrote:

T REX wrote:bth: No offense, but you are being a little blaise about the whole thing.

I'm not sure what word you attempted to spell there.

Blase? Yes. I'm typically blase about stuff that isn't a big deal. Yes, I know, blase has an accented e, but I don't care enough to figure out how to make the keyboard do that.

Biased? Admittedly, I'm an OU fan, but I hardly think this is as big a deal as Tom Hicks drafting marginal baseball players and paying them signing bonuses when they sign to play football for Texas. Which isn't really that big of a deal either.

Believe the Heupel wrote:

T REX wrote:bth: No offense, but you are being a little blaise about the whole thing.

I'm not sure what word you attempted to spell there.

Blase? Yes. I'm typically blase about stuff that isn't a big deal. Yes, I know, blase has an accented e, but I don't care enough to figure out how to make the keyboard do that.

Biased? Admittedly, I'm an OU fan, but I hardly think this is as big a deal as Tom Hicks drafting marginal baseball players and paying them signing bonuses when they sign to play football for Texas. Which isn't really that big of a deal either.

Vito Corleone wrote:Funny picture especially since it looks like he is stealing the 2k championship trophy and whites heisman trophy.

I'm pretty sure he won't be getting either next year.