Arian Foster always gets a phone call from his grandpa after every Tennessee football game.

This week, he’ll get a hug.

Tennessee’s starting tailback will play in front of his grandfather, Carl Foster, who plans on making the six-hour drive from his home in Carson, Calif., to Berkeley for the Vols’ season-opener Saturday at No. 12 California.

Normally, Carl Foster spends game day with his wife watching his grandson on television.

It’s how he’s always seen his grandson play, from Pop Warner through now.

The videotapes came in the mail from youth leagues all the way through Foster’s days at Mission Bay High School in San Diego.

“Now they’re on TV,” Arian says. “He tells me he buys all the college football packages and everything. He watches me every week.”

On Saturday, though, the 80-year-old Foster will be in the stands to see his grandson play for the first time.

“Very, very, very excited,” says Carl. “Just been preparing all week long to go. What it feels like to me is when you go to a surprise party and you don’t even know anything about it. You just almost feel like you want to cry because you’re so happy.”

Carl’s son, also named Carl Foster, will pick him up either today or tomorrow and drive up the coast to Berkeley.

While the eldest Foster went to places like Las Vegas and Houston to watch his son play as a wide receiver at New Mexico State, his travel is limited these days by his wife’s health.

June Foster, 77, has limited mobility and will remain in Carson, a suburb of Los Angeles. But that doesn’t mean Carl Foster’s wife of 57 years won’t get something out of the trip.

“It’s going to be a special occasion,” Carl says. “I don’t have a (camcorder), but I got little hand camera. I’m going to take pictures so I can bring them back and show them to the wife.”

Carl Foster is working on quite the collection for his grandson.

He says he’s nearly worn out the tape of last year’s Outback Bowl from watching it more than dozen times. When a picture of Arian appeared last fall in The Los Angeles Times, he clipped it and sent it to his grandson.

He scours newspapers and the Internet for any mention of Arian and the Vols.

“I read everything I can about the whole team,” Carl says.

And most of Carson knows that Carl is the authority on Tennessee football — from his friends at the barbershop to the doctor (and UCLA graduate) who lives across the street.

“I went in the barbershop just the other day,” Carl said, “and everyone said, ‘Oh, I saw your grandson on TV.’ It put a big smile on my face because they’re all talking about my grandson.”

Arian Foster is just happy for the time he gets to spend talking to his grandfather, a former Pop Warner League coach and a retired electric pumping plant operator for the City of Los Angeles.

“They say old tongues love to wag,” Arian said. “Most people get bored when elderly people talk because they just start rambling. ... But everything he says just has so much wisdom, you can tell.”

Arian Foster likely won’t get a chance to talk to his grandfather in person until after Saturday’s game, but he’ll be sure to pick Carl Foster out in the stands and give him a wave during pregame warmups.

“Once the game’s on, I’ve got nothing on my mind but the game,” Arian said. “You can’t help but notice, my grandpa’s in the stands and he’s never seen me play a football game before. Not any added pressure, but this is a moment I’d like to bask in.”

When asked how he would like to celebrate the occasion, Arian offers a low, soft laugh.

“Just to do well, man,” he says. “Just do well.”

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.

© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.