Stoops 'expects' Peterson to play

See inside for OU head coach Bob Stoops' comments after Friday's practice on Adrian Peterson's status and the matchup against Boise State. Peterson needs just 151 yards in the Fiesta Bowl to break Billy Sims' all-time Oklahoma rushing record. (AP Photo)

OU Head Football Coach Bob Stoops said Friday evening that All-American running back Adrian Peterson was at practice today that he would definitely play in the Fiesta Bowl agianst Boise State. In fact, coach Stoops said that Peterson could have played in the Big-12 Championship game against Nebraska! "What everyone forgets is that technically AD was cleared to play in the Big 12 Championship game," said coach Stoops following practice. "We just chose — AD, myself, Scott Anderson and our doctors — to just be on the cautious side and not play him. So we just chose not to. "He is cleared to play and he did practice today. We will give him more work as we lead up to the game, and we fully expect him to play. He is anxious to play and he wants to. As we work through each practice each week we are going to give him more and more. With his timing he looks great and he is excited to play, and we expect him to." Stoops also says his Sooners are excited about playing in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. "We are excited about representing the Big 12," said Stoops following practice. "The players are excited about it and we are as a staff. It is a great bowl game and earning your way there is pretty special for sure. We are looking forward to it and it will be a great challenge. "Boise State is a really good football team. I had a chance for the first time this afternoon after getting back into the office from recruiting and everything else to watch them. They are really an excellent football team. They are very disciplined and very talented in the way the execute. But when you get into these kinds of games you expect to play a really good opponent, so we are excited about it." Stoops also talked about Friday's workout. "Practice went really well," Stoops said. "We are keeping the timing of the veterans and our starters together, while at the same time getting them out of there and working in a lot of young players and getting them a lot of snaps. That is so important to build for next year." The Sooners are expected to workout on Saturday, but all practices are closed to the public.