Peterson's father restricted from attending season opener

Adrian Peterson will have to wait a little longer to see his father in the stands.

The Oklahoma running back's father, who was incarcerated seven years ago and only has been able to watch his son play on television since, will not be permitted to attend the Sooners' season opener. Nelson Peterson is living at a halfway house in Oklahoma City, and he said Wednesday that his request to attend Saturday's game in Norman against Alabama-Birmingham has been denied.

Earlier this preseason, Adrian Peterson said he would be disappointed if his dad wasn't allowed to attend the opener.

"I don't see why there would be any reason not to be cleared to come to the games," the younger Peterson said then. "He traveled before by himself."

Nelson Peterson now travels from the Oklahoma Halfway House Inc., which is downtown, to his job at Jackie Cooper BMW in Edmond.

"I don't see why he can't come 30 minutes down the road to see his son play ball," Adrian Peterson said. "That'd be kind of crazy."

Even though Nelson Peterson will not be at the game this week, he is expected to be released Oct. 5. At that point, he will be free to go where he wants and do what he pleases.

OU plays Texas on Oct. 7.

Convicted on federal charges of laundering money acquired from the distribution of crack cocaine, Nelson Peterson spent more than six years at the Federal Correctional Institute in Texarkana, Texas. He moved to the halfway house this summer.

"Here lately with two-a-days, I haven't been able to get down to the city and see him," Adrian Peterson said. "We've got opportunities on Sunday to go to church and have a quality visit.

"I talk to him almost every other day."