JayhawkSlant.com - Foster and his brother battle adversity

September 24, 2009

Bryan Cisler

Before the Northern Colorado game several weeks ago, defensive lineman Steven Foster knew where to find one of his biggest fans. Foster looked to the handicap section and spotted his brother, Trevor, sitting in his wheelchair sporting his #31 Foster jersey - not sold in stores.

It was a comforting feeling. Steven knew he was likely to see time on the field that day, and with his brother watching on, well, things finally felt normal again. Even if the situation wasn't.

The 20-year-old Trevor was born with cerebral palsy. And while the disability limits Trevor from many activities that most people take for granted, it doesn't stop him from attending Kansas football games and cheering on his brother.

"He really is the biggest KU fan ever," Steven said. "He comes to every game he can."

Trevor started attending his brother's games when Steven was in the second grade. And as the years went on and Steven accumulated various awards and trophies, Trevor was by his side the entire time. Whether it was parking his wheelchair on the sidelines at Steven's high school football games, or sitting on the edge of the mat during a wrestling match, Trevor never missed any of the action.

"It is kind of weird if you don't see Trevor out there," Steven said.

Steven and Trevor may be step-brothers, but when you talk to Steven you would think they were related by blood. Growing up in central Kansas, the Fosters didn't live in a handicap accessible house. So after the family would get done watching a movie in the basement, sometimes it would be the 10-year-old Steven who would carry his brother up the stairs. His father, Steven Foster Sr., said it helped Steven build strength and muscle. That wasn't all.

"It also taught him a lot about responsibility and being humble," Steven's dad said.

Those traits would help carry Steven through last season, in what was a trying year for Foster. He was a redshirt freshman and rarely saw the field. Foster later admits that his attention wasn't entirely on football. Foster was a fullback at the time, but was so far down on the depth chart that Kansas coach Mark Mangino temporarily moved Drew Dudley there from linebacker.

Foster played some on special teams but the coaches demanded more. At the end of the season, Foster and Mangino sat down in the head coach's office and had what Mangino referred to as a "come to Jesus talk." The message was simple: change your work habits and rededicate yourself to football - or else.

"If he wasn't going to do that then there wasn't going to be a place for him," Mangino said.

Mangino noticed the change in Foster's attitude almost instantly.

"I like the way he responded," Mangino said. "Some kids it takes a little longer to adapt to college life. He was a kid who was used to being the big star in high school and everybody here was a big star in high school so you have to earn your way. Some get frustrated and get down about it. To his credit, he hung in there and I am proud of the way he responded to it now."

Still, there was that matter of playing time, or lack there of. With the coaches impressed with Foster's energy, they gave him a shot at linebacker, but Steven never got comfortable at that position. Then, one day after a spring practice, defensive line coach Tom Sims approached Foster and asked him about the idea of playing on the defensive line as a pass rusher.

"I am down for trying anything you want me to do," Foster remembers saying.

Foster would have to get used to playing with his hand on the ground. But over time, the fog in his head began to lift.

It also helped that his roommates, Jake Laptad, Justin Springer and Drew Dudley, all play defense. So when they are lounging around their house, Foster can pick their brains about different defensive assignments.

"They really help me stay motivated and focused because they are really into football," Foster said.

Mangino has only had three full games to evaluate Foster, but has seen progress.

"So far it has been good but the competition will get a little tougher for him," Mangino said. "There will be more rangier left and right tackles but I think he will do well because he has the attitude and toughness about him that he can make plays."

Foster had three total tackles against Northern Colorado. Not enough to exactly make headlines, but it was a start. The best part of the night though was after the game. He watched proudly as Trevor got his wheelchair autographed by the likes of Todd Reesing and Dezmon Briscoe. And just like the old days, there were the Foster brothers celebrating another win.

"That made his whole year," Foster said. "He doesn't have the advantages that a lot of other people do so letting him watch me play makes me happy. "

Kansas NEWS

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