Published: July 25, 2008 10:54 am      

Foster settling in

MARLOW FOOTBALL TEAM, COACH COMING TOGETHER

MARLOW — MARLOW — As Barry Foster is changing his wardrobe from the black and red of Rush Springs to the dark blue of Marlow, Outlaw football players are working toward preparing for the upcoming season under their new head coach.

Thanks to spring football and summer workouts, change has been smooth for both parties as they prepare for the first day of football practice, which is 18 days away.

“It’s been a great transition,” Foster said. “It’s the same kind of kid we have been coaching at Rush Springs. Hardworking and blue-collar kids that love to play high school football. The community has given us unbelievable support and we have a great administration. As a coach, you couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Foster comes from a good situation in Rush Springs, where he led the team to three state quarterfinal appearances in his three years as head coach. In Marlow, he inherits a team that had a first-round exit in the playoffs last season but advanced to the Class 3A state championship game two years ago.

Since accepting the job in late March, Foster has been a regular on the campus of Marlow High School and put the team through spring drills. During drills, the team began to make changes in both the offense and the defense. The Outlaws will work from an I, with a little more fullback involved and will also change their defensive alignment to a 5-2.

“We will be able to adjust better in a 5-2,” Foster said. “The offense is similar but the terminology will be different. The key will be getting people in the right position.”

One of those who is making a position change is Dalton Wortham. Wortham is switching from the offensive line to tight end and has impressed Foster with his work in making the transition, staying late to catch passes.

Spring football and the summer workouts gave Foster and the team time to get to know each other and build bonds. When Foster coached the Oklahoma team in the Oil Bowl earlier this summer, he made it a point to get to know as many players on the team as he could.

“The good thing about the off-season is that I’m getting to know most of the kids,” Foster said. “Spring ball helped a lot and during the summer you can see the dedicated ones. I’m tickled pink with the participation this summer. Most of them have been showing up, although I wish some more were here. What’s surprised me more than anything else is the number of younger kids showing up. They have been getting up early and it’s a pleasant surprise.”

The weight room has been open four days a week since June with the morning session starting at 7 a.m. and the evening session starting at 7 p.m. After weight lifting, the athletes are put through cardio exercises. With position battles open for the fall campaign, those who have been through spring football and the summer workouts are positioning themselves into a good place to help the team.

“The jobs are wide open,” Foster said. “In spring ball, we learned a lot. It doesn’t take long to get a fix. When we start practice, it’s not going to take long to figure who all has been showing up when we start running.”

The Marlow coaching staff is short by one as it prepares for two-a-days. Derek Jones, an offensive line coach, left the program a couple of weeks ago to take a coaching job at Yukon High School. Because of the timing, Foster may forgo hiring an assistant and wait until next year to make sure the vacancy is filled.

“I’m in the process of trying to fill the position but I don’t want to hire just anyone,” Foster said. “We may just wait to find the right fit.”

In taking over the Marlow job, Foster feels that he is the right fit and the timing could not have been any better. If Matt Weber had not taken the Ada head coaching position, Foster is certain that he would still be at Rush Springs. But the opportunity for him and his family was too good to pass up.

“I hate it for the kids in Rush Springs but it’s a great situation for me and my family,” Foster said. “This is rejuvenating. The excitement was there in April and it’s still there. I’m anxious to get out there and see what we can do. We have an opportunity to do something this year.”