Foster competes in halftime show

Published 12:00 am Sunday, November 7, 1999

Timmy Foster will be performing at the Louisiana Superdome today.

No, the 11-year-old Natchez youth is not ready to back up Billy Joe Tolliver.

Foster will be competing today in the 1999 New Orleans Saints NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass & Kick Team Championship Sunday at halftime of the New Orleans-Tampa Bay football game.

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&uot;I’m excited about it,&uot; Foster said. &uot;I’m not a big Saints fan, but I’m looking forward to seeing the game.&uot;

Foster won a local competition at Huntington High last month and took the regional championship at New Roads, La., two weeks ago.

Foster had a winning score of 287.4. He threw the football 122.2 feet; kicked it 80 feet and punted it 58 feet.

&uot;I was surprised to win it,&uot; Foster said. &uot;I&160;went first and when I threw it I knew I had a good throw. The man with the NFL told me later if I can do what I did in New Roads I have a good chance of winning. I want to at least match what I did there.&uot;

Foster will be seated on the field during the game. After a brief warm-up, each participant will receive one punt, one pass and one placekick as part of their competition. Once the competition is completed, participants will rehearse the halftime passing exhibition.

After the halftime rehearsals, scores will be tabulated and first through fifth places awards will be presented.

&uot;That’s going to be great to be able to throw during halftime,&uot; he said.

The winner in each group will be introduced to the crowd on the field between the third and fourth quarter.

Scores are based on distance and accuracy on the combined scores for the three events. Spotters mark a participant’s punt/pass/kick at the location that the ball first touches.

First place finishers from today’s competition will have their scores submitted to the NFL. Once all 31 teams have completed their team championship, the scores will be ranked and the top four finishers in each age group will receive an all-expense paid trip for three to the National Finals taking place at a playoff game in January of 2000.

&uot;I would love to be able to get that,&uot; Foster said.