Adrian Peterson recounts "The Run"
12/19/2009 1:23:00 AM | Football
Tonight (December 18) marks the 10th anniversary of Georgia Southern's 59-24 victory over Youngstown State at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga. The game featured many memorable moments, but one stands out -- an incredible display of power and determination, "The Run," by 1999 Walter Payton Award Winner Adrian Peterson. The iconic play led to Peterson's third touchdown of the contest and the Eagles' unprecedented fifth national championship.
"A.P.," current member of the Chicago Bears, recounted "The Run" for Eagle fans on this, the 10th anniversary of the 1999 NCAA Championship game. Footage courtesy of the NCAA/Thought Equity Motion.
Adrian Peterson:
The Run, started out as another play in the triple option offense, getting great movement up front from the offensive line, but this was a hand off instead of a read option by the Quarterback Greg Hill.
Once I got the ball, I was doing what I do on every carry -- trying to score a touchdown. When running the ball, things happen so fast, there is not much time to think, you just react and use your God-given talent. Whenever I get into the open, I try and take a visual picture of where my teammates are and the location of the defenders while predicting which angle they will take to make the tackle -- a lot to do in about a half of a second.
Understanding that there are going to be defenders in my blind spots, I make sure to hold the ball close to my body, knowing that someone will be trying to tackle me. The energy mixed with the determination running through my body cannot be measured. Focused in on the task at hand, the crowd noise is a blur. After being tackled and not realizing what just actually happened, I jump up and pump my fist, because I know it was a big gain for the team.
It's the National Championship, this is why we push each other to the limit during winter conditioning, two-a-day practices, and do extra drills. All the things the fans never see or experience, it's all for these types of games. There were a ton of great guys on that team and it was good to be a part of Georgia Southern.
Go Eagles,
A.P. #3
