Peterson: Marks prove interception

• By SCOTT HOTARD
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 8, 2009

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a room tucked beneath the south side of Bryant-Denny Stadium, LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson stood in a corner facing a mass of reporters asking the same questions.

Peterson clutched both ends of a white towel draped around his neck.

His answers never changed.

Yes, Peterson said, he’d touched down in play on an apparent interception late in Saturday’s game. Yes, he said, the ruling the officials made was the wrong one.

On a patch of grass probably 150 yards from the interview room, a divot of dirt left by Peterson an hour earlier provided the sophomore cornerback’s most compelling reply.

“The foot marks were left on the field,” Peterson said.

The foot marks. Peterson and his teammate pointed there as they lobbied for officials to reconsider their stance.

But it did no good.

Even after a replay review, Alabama retained possession at the LSU 40-yard line. Officials upheld a ruling that Peterson, who’d stepped in front of Crimson Tide receiver Julio Jones to snatch a Greg McElroy pass, came down with the ball out of bounds.

Instead of taking possession with a chance to drive for the winning points, LSU watched Alabama march out Leigh Tiffin for a 40-yard field goal five plays later.

Tiffin connected. Alabama landed the dagger in a 24-15 victory.

“After I caught the ball,” Peterson said, “I looked down. I had both feet on the green.”

Following the game, LSU coach Les Miles may have been inclined to guard his statements.