MASON CITY - Minnesota Vikings all-pro Adrian Peterson never offered to help save the NIACC football program.

North Iowa Area Community College assistant coach Kevin Griffith told head coach Steve LaLonde on Thursday that Peterson and three other NFL players were willing to give the school up to $150,000 after it was announced that NIACC was canceling its football program because of budget concerns.

It turns out that wasn't the case. Griffith said in a phone interview with the Globe Gazette Friday evening that he never spoke directly to Peterson.

"I made a mistake and anything that comes out of this falls on me," said Griffith, who started coaching duties at NIACC on Monday. "Nothing ever came out of Adrian's mouth.

"I should have said I'll try to get the money from him and other people.

"I should have given coach LaLonde more info on that. I'm at fault. I want to apologize to him and the school, to Adrian and the Vikings," Griffith said.

LaLonde, contacted Friday night, declined comment.

LaLonde told the Globe Gazette on Thursday that Peterson and three other NFL players had agreed to donate money to the NIACC football program.

"This was confirmed this morning," LaLonde said Thursday. "He has put together a formal package for us through his agent and lawyer. We don't know the exact amount, but close to $150,000 will be given to the program via Adrian and other NFL players to keep us running through the next season."

LaLonde said a proposal had been given to NIACC President Debra Derr, Vice President Karen Pierson and Athletic Director Dan Mason about noon Thursday.

Derr said Thursday night that she, Mason and Pierson had a meeting scheduled with LaLonde Friday morning.

She said college officials would need to see an offer in writing before they could make a decision, but if an offer was made, "That would be a miracle. That would be amazing."

Derr said donations of $171,996 would be needed to fund the program for the 2009 season.

College officials had told coaches and players Tuesday - the day spring practice was to begin - that the football program was being terminated.

Griffith, 32, said Friday he has tried to contact Peterson.

"He's not taking any phone calls right now," Griffith said. "It's a bad situation right now. All the blame goes to me."

Griffith said he talked to "one of his friends" about possibly having Peterson and other NFL players give money to the program.

"It was a close confidant in his inner circle," Griffith said. "I haven't spoken to him (Peterson) and don't know if I ever will. It's real bad right now."

Griffith, who has ties to Peterson dating back to his high school playing days in Palestine, Texas, said the last time he saw Peterson was at an Oklahoma Sooner game last fall.

"We talked for about a minute," Griffith said.

Griffith said Friday that he doesn't want to hurt Peterson's reputation.

"Adrian Peterson is a great guy," he said. "It was my fault for not having all my facts together."

Griffith was an assistant coach at Jenks High School in Oklahoma and left the position to be an assistant for the Trojans.

"I got here on Monday and got fired on Tuesday," he said. "I left my fiancee and two children and a great job in Oklahoma.

"Now, I'm scrambling to find a job and obviously this bad press is not helping right now."