Morton, Foster built from same mold

FAYETTEVILLE - They were totally different styles of running backs operating in different decades, yet it perfectly fits that Dickey Morton and Barry Foster enter the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor together.

Morton of the 1970s and Foster of the 1980s sported credentials long to be elected before Monday’s announcement. Both are part of a nine-person Hall of Honor class of former Razorbacks greats to be inducted during banquet ceremonies at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale on Aug. 30.

Morton and Foster exemplify that while maybe you can’t compare apples and oranges, you surely should savor the best of both.

Only 5-9 and probably weighing in the 170s, Morton was just as apt to run between the tackles as around them. He could dart anywhere accelerating almost full speed on the first step while annually leading Razorbacks rushers in 1971-1973.

Despite little help from a young 5-5-1 team, Morton in 1973 gained 1,298 yards on 226 carries. His 271 rushing yards in a 13-7 victory at Baylor were Arkansas record until surpassed by Darren McFadden’s 321 against South Carolina in 2007.

Arkansas offensive linemen R.C. Thielemann and Greg Koch advanced to long NFL careers and into the UA Hall of Honor. However, reviewing their 1973 season as underweight, not ready for prime time true freshmen forced to start, both confessed they didn’t so much block for Morton as just try to not to impede him. Morton took some incredible punishment behind that young line but played through every game. He even bounced back to beat Iowa State after Cyclones linebacker Matt Blair knocked him senseless on the Razorback Stadium turf.

Foster, a super strong 5-10,220-pound fullback with a tailback’s burst, administered more punishment than he took while helping Ken Hatfield’s Hogs win Southwest Conference championships in 1988 and 1989.

The Wishbone that Hatfield ran in utilized Foster at fullback in the triple option.

In 1989, Foster was the I-formation fullback blocking for tailback James Rouse but also running the ball at fullback and tailback (176 carries for 936 yards and 9 touchdowns).

The Hatfield era often gets stereotyped as 3 yards and a cloud of dust. However that 1989 offense featuring All-SWC quarterback Quinn Grovey, All-SWC tailback Rouse, receiver Derek Russell and a veteran line - including All-American tackle Jim Mabry - was among the most explosive UA attacks of all time.

With his down and dirty fullback role often taken for granted, Foster seldom got the college headlines like those teammates just mentioned.

But professionally, he out shined them all. For the 1992 Pittsburgh Steelers, Foster’s 1,690 yards led the NFL in rushing.

As a 1973 Arkansas teammate of Morton and an eventual Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker closely following Foster’s Pittsburgh’s days though his own Steelers career was done, Dennis Winston (Hall of Honor 2012) has an appreciative perspective on both.

“I am so proud that both of these guys made the Hall of Honor,” Winston, now Grambling State’s defensive coordinator, said Monday night. “They are so deserving to be there.”