Fiesta Bowl notebook: Broncos’ Johnson feels Sooner’s pain

Ian Johnson had flashbacks. Like many college football followers, the Boise State running back watched and grimaced when Oklahoma star tailback Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone diving into the end zone in mid-October.

Johnson, who rushed for 1,613 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Broncos, was reminded of his freshman year in high school, when both his collarbones were broken on a hit, and he missed the next three months.

Peterson’s injury occurred in Week six, and he missed the rest of the regular season.

He was cleared to play in the Big 12 championship game, but didn’t.

“I know it’s very uncomfortable and there’s not much you can do for it,” Johnson said. “Being a football player we all have it ingrained in us to get back on that field. I’m surprised he didn’t get back earlier, there has to be someone higher up saying to wait, because we all have it in us to get back, even if it hurts a little.”

Peterson practiced in full this week and the Sooners have declared him good-to-go for Monday night’s Fiesta Bowl.

“They said he’d probably make his bowl game and now we’re playing against them,” Johnson said. “I guess it’s karma.”

HELPFUL HEUPEL

If Sooners quarterback Paul Thompson has any concerns about playing on a stage such as this, he needs to look no further than his quarterbacks coach for advice.

Former star Josh Heupel has returned to Oklahoma after a year as tight ends coach at the University of Arizona.

Heupel led the Sooners to the national championship in 2000 and finished second that year in the Heisman Trophy voting.

“He’s been great,” Thompson said. “He came right in, didn’t miss a beat. He’s real knowledgeable of the game and real savvy as far as reading defenses.”

EXTENSION is coming for Petersen

No formal discussions have ensued, but there’s a good chance Boise State will offer Broncos coach Chris Petersen a contract extension and pay raise following the Fiesta Bowl.

It’s only Petersen’s first year as coach (he was the Broncos offensive coordinator for five seasons), but he’s a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award after the 42-year-old became the second coach in the past 25 years to win 12 games in his first year as a Division I-A coach.

Petersen has said he has no desire to leave Boise.

But following Dennis Erickson’s move from Idaho to ASU after only one season, the school doesn’t want to roll the dice.

“It’s in the works,” Broncos athletic director Gene Bleymaier said late last week of the future contract talks.

LITTLE BROTHER IS WATCHING

In attendance at Oklahoma’s practice on Wednesday was Mike Stoops, Arizona’s coach and Bob Stoops’ little brother.

Mike’s team finished the year 6-6 but was not invited to a bowl game.

“They’ve made strong and significant progress.” Bob Stoops said of the Wildcats.

“I know he wants more, and they’re on their way towards it.”