By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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First came a trying impairment, then defenders charging his way. For Adrian Peterson, the end result was exactly the same.

nIt was 1st-and-ten, midway through the second quarter of the 1999 1-AA National Championship Game: Georgia Southern vs Youngstown State. The Eagles, in their famed triple-option set, stood at their own 28-yard line. The nation’s Walter Payton award winner burst through the line on a simple dive-read. What happened next was one of the greatest plays in college football history. Adrian Peterson tore through defenders, moving with a palpable strength, tenacity and, most importantly, a powerful persistence.

nWhile “the run” will long stand as an iconic part of Georgia Southern lore, the story behind it means so much more.

nRaised in rural north Florida, Peterson grew up running, jumping, laughing and smiling like other children his age. Speaking, however, was always a struggle. Peterson’s plight, one with something everyone else did so seamlessly, was a difficult one. Without a consistent ability to communicate, natural progressions, for Peterson, were made painstakingly. Nothing came easy.xc2xa0xc2xa0

n”It was hard,” Peterson acknowledged. “My dad explained to me ‘Adrian, it could have been worse, you might have not have been able to speak’.”He told me ‘God gave you a gift’ and that was the motivation that I needed.”

nThrough adversity, Peterson became an absolute star on the gridiron. He earned two-time all-state honors at Santa Fe High School in Alachua and was recognized as an All-American by the likes of ESPN and Blue Chip Illustrated. His senior year, Peterson was named the Florida AAAA Player of the Year. He also was a four-year letter-winner in track and a two-time letter-winner in both basketball and weightlifting.xc2xa0

nPeterson accepted a scholarship to play football for the Eagles and dominated right away. In just his first season, he ran for 1,932 yards and 25 touchdowns. For an encore, he compiled 1,807 rushing yards, 28 scores and led Georgia Southern to the 1-AA national championship. He marched Georgia Southern to another title, with 2,056 yards and 19 touchdowns, the very next fall. With 1,795 yards and 21 more scores as a senior, Peterson finished one of the most illustrious college careers of all-time with 7,590 yards, 93 touchdowns, both Division I records, and two national championship rings.xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0

nWith fame, came attention and media involvement. It was a situation in which Peterson was quite uncomfortable, given his significant speech disorder. Program and school staff members offered guidance and direction. Peterson, as he did on the football field, simply refused to be beaten. It was a very real fight against his fears, but Peterson committed himself to tackling an issue that had been with him his whole life.xc2xa0

n”In high school I did probably seven or eight interviews throughout my entire career. I signed with Georgia Southern and by my second game I was doing seven interviews a day,” Peterson explained. “Fast forward to the Chicago Bears and it was a transition. But I always looked back to my dad and when he explained to me I had a gift. And I truly believe that gift is mostly in others.”

nAfter a nine-year NFL career, one where he played in Super Bowl XLI with the Chicago Bears, Peterson is now helping people overcome obstacles by writing and, ironically, speaking. In addition to his autobiography “Don’t Dis My Abilities”, Peterson is on an extensive lecture tour. He has brought a positive influence and perspective to businesses, churches, schools and teams and has traveled the country doing what once held him back. His narrative is one that resonates.xc2xa0

n”It’s a story of a guy growing up in a small town, with a speech impediment, and having a dream,” he stated. xc2xa0

nWhile going through his own personal trials and tribulations, Peterson didn’t have to look far for inspiration.

n”My dad stressed discipline and respect, along with hard work. Seeing him go to work every morning and put in intolerable hours for our family…having a mom who smiles and loves you but shoots it straight. If you’re doing wrong, she is going to let you know, but if you are doing well, she will give you a hug,” Peterson smiled. “Having a great support system is truly important.”

nPart of Peterson’s message is the value of family and friends. The right foundation is critical towards building stability, especially for many young people in our current culture. That base can come in a variety of different forms. It builds creativity, confidence and perseverance, traits Peterson is working hard to promote.xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0

n”So many kids nowadays don’t have that kind of support system that I had growing up. If I can step up in their lives, for maybe 15 or 20 minutes, and give them a glimpse of my story, maybe I can motivate them,” he nodded.

nWhen talking with students, Peterson is quick to reference the the role scholastic achievement has played in his life. From sticking with speech therapy classes in grade-school to graduating from Georgia Southern the day before his final game, Peterson is a 215-pound example of what success in school can do. Despite his disability, Peterson earned a bachelor of arts degree in commercial recreation and was the first in his recruiting class to finish.xc2xa0xc2xa0

n”Whether it’s high school sports or college sports, you are considered a student-athlete. I think a lot of people get that confused with being an athlete-student,” he added. “The student part comes first for a reason, because if you don’t have grades, you can’t play sports.”

nREAD: Georgia Southern’s Journey

nPeterson never settled. First came a trying impairment, then defenders charging his way. The end result was exactly the same. Peterson scratched and clawed his way through, earning every inch of his many steps forward. For most, one highlight, in particular, stands out. xc2xa0 xc2xa0xc2xa0

n”It was an amazing play and, the thing about it was, I didn’t really notice what I had done until three days later,” Peterson admitted of “the run”. “I’m so focused on the field, that whatever comes up you deal with it and continue to roll. It was a very exciting play.”

nYears ago, Peterson received some key football advice from a familiar source. Some called him Porter, some called him coach; Adrian called him dad.xc2xa0xc2xa0xc2xa0

n”He always told me ‘one guy should never be able to bring you down’, so I would just keep those legs driving,” Peterson concluded.

nFocus away from the field gave Peterson an incredible opportunity on it. Of that, he took full advantage. Before being selected in the 2002 NFL Draft, before finishing his amateur career as a four-time All-American, before winning national titles, before breaking tackles and breaking spirits, Peterson was a stammering, stuttering boy who simply wanted to be normal. Ultimately, that wasn’t enough.