Brian Foster plays for a higher purpose at Northwestern

By John Burbridge

sports@charlescitypress.com

Total yards from scrimmage … yards per carry … yards after catch … yards after contact.

Math may be one of Brian “BJ” Foster’s favorite subjects, but these are numbers he doesn’t waste time adding up.

Especially when he’s part of the equation.

“Scoring touchdowns and rushing for a lot of yards … those are individual stats,” said the former multi-sport Charles City High School star who just finished his freshman season with the University of Northwestern Eagles football team.

“I never bother keeping track of those,” he said. “I know newspapers like to run them and put my picture next to them, but it takes a whole team to move the ball.”

In that case we’ll say that Foster’s new Eagle teammates helped him move the ball 516 yards on just 68 attempts this past season. That’s 7.5 yards per carry which led all Eagle rushers. But like Foster alludes, it was a team effort and he’s not in competition with any of his teammates.

“They’re all my brothers,” Foster said. “That’s the way I look at it. Playing with these guys has been wonderful. The coaches have been wonderful.”

As an all-District back playing for the Comets, Foster had always put his team first while focusing on the common goal (victories) over personal glory.

But upon arriving in St. Paul, Foster adopted an even more selfless approach to the game.

“I’m playing for God’s glory,” Foster said. “I mean playing to get wins is what I’ve always tried to do, but playing for His glory takes it to another level for me.

“I’m thankful He’s allowed me to play this game, and I’m honoring Him for the opportunity.”

Foster has always been faithful, but coming to Northwestern has given him the greater confidence to express himself.

“It’s a Christian school so it’s alright to pray with your teammates as well as your opponents,” Foster said. “You’re around guys where doing something like that is not out of the normal.”

The Eagles finished with an 8-3 overall record and an 8-1 mark in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, where their runner-up status disqualified them from the Division III postseason national championship.

“We did get to play in a bowl game,” Foster said of the NCCAA Victory Bowl in Waxahauchie, Tex., where the Eagles were edged by Southwest Assemblies of God University, 10-7.

A reserve at the start of the season, Foster broke out in the fourth game against Martin Luther, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown, and compiling 117 total yards from scrimmage.

The following game against Iowa Wesleyan, Foster rushed for 111 yards. Then against MacMurray, Foster ran for 154 yards, which ended up being the high-mark for the Eagles last season.

In the subsequent loss against St. Scholastica, which knocked the Eagles out of the playoffs, Foster sustained an injury and only played sparingly the rest of the season.

Foster didn’t curse God then. Instead, he praised Him some more as well as the players who filled in for him.

“It’s all about the next guy up,” he said. “Everyone here was a good football player in high school. So there’s always going to someone there to step up when someone goes down.”

Still angling for a major, Foster is leaning toward business and administration. Now no longer a multisport athlete, Foster can devote more time to scholastics … and conditioning … and God.

“It’s go to school, go to chapel, workout, repeat,” said Foster, who has adjusted well his first year away from Charles City.

“You have to go out of your way to avoid people not to make friends here,” said Foster, who’s only been back home twice since the fall.

The last time was several weeks ago to meet the four children his family has adopted.

There’s also family back in St. Paul — older sister Jackie, a sophomore who plays on the Eagles volleyball team.

“She has helped a lot in adjusting to college life,” Foster said. “Whenever I’m hungry, I know where to go for food.”