FAMILIAR NAME, RESULTS
Oct. 24, 2017
Minnesota is no stranger to the Barber name.
Marion Barber played running back at Minnesota from 1977-80 and ranks sixth all-time in program history with 3,094 rushing yards. Marion Barber III played running back at Minnesota from 2001-04 and ranks fourth all-time in program history with 3,276 rushing yards. Dom Barber lettered at Minnesota as a defensive back from 2004-07 and notched 187 career tackles.
Now, Thomas Barber is etching his name into Gophers history with a breakout sophomore season.
Barber leads the Gophers with 63 tackles (44 solo) including 7.5 for a loss and also has one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He leads the entire Big Ten and is sixth in the country in solo tackles.
"I think he's a completely different person, in a good way. I'm not saying he was bad before, he's a phenomenal person, but I think he's a completely different person," head coach P.J. Fleck said. "He's willing to take the responsibility on his shoulders. I think in week one, week two, he wasn't. He was looking for somebody else to do that. I think he's starting to own the defense a little bit more."
Barber has had double-figure tackles in all four Big Ten games this season. He is the first Gopher since Kim Royston in the 2011 season to have four straight games with double-digit tackles He is the first Gopher to have four straight Big Ten games with double-digit tackles since Lee Campbell did so in the 2009 season (13 against Wisconsin, 11 against Purdue, 13 against Penn State, 13 against Ohio State).
In the midst of Barber's hot-streak he had a 16 tackle game at home against Michigan State. Prior to this season the Gophers did not have a player with 15 or more tackles in a game since Damien Wilson had 15 on Oct. 11, 2014 against Northwestern. This season both Barber and senior Jon Celestin have accomplished the feat. Celestin notched 15 tackles against Maryland. The most tackles in TCF Bank Stadium history by a Gopher is 17 by Nate Triplett in 2009.
While Barber's family has a rich Maroon and Gold history, they have never put any added pressure on him. They are just enjoying his success along with all the other Gopher fans.
"They are so far along from the game that they just try to enjoy the game now," Barber said. "They say they are always excited to see me up on the TV when they are watching at home or my dad is really excited when he's here watching me. He just tries to back off and let me play football."
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102417aad.html
Oct. 24, 2017
Minnesota is no stranger to the Barber name.
Marion Barber played running back at Minnesota from 1977-80 and ranks sixth all-time in program history with 3,094 rushing yards. Marion Barber III played running back at Minnesota from 2001-04 and ranks fourth all-time in program history with 3,276 rushing yards. Dom Barber lettered at Minnesota as a defensive back from 2004-07 and notched 187 career tackles.
Now, Thomas Barber is etching his name into Gophers history with a breakout sophomore season.
Barber leads the Gophers with 63 tackles (44 solo) including 7.5 for a loss and also has one interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He leads the entire Big Ten and is sixth in the country in solo tackles.
"I think he's a completely different person, in a good way. I'm not saying he was bad before, he's a phenomenal person, but I think he's a completely different person," head coach P.J. Fleck said. "He's willing to take the responsibility on his shoulders. I think in week one, week two, he wasn't. He was looking for somebody else to do that. I think he's starting to own the defense a little bit more."
Barber has had double-figure tackles in all four Big Ten games this season. He is the first Gopher since Kim Royston in the 2011 season to have four straight games with double-digit tackles He is the first Gopher to have four straight Big Ten games with double-digit tackles since Lee Campbell did so in the 2009 season (13 against Wisconsin, 11 against Purdue, 13 against Penn State, 13 against Ohio State).
In the midst of Barber's hot-streak he had a 16 tackle game at home against Michigan State. Prior to this season the Gophers did not have a player with 15 or more tackles in a game since Damien Wilson had 15 on Oct. 11, 2014 against Northwestern. This season both Barber and senior Jon Celestin have accomplished the feat. Celestin notched 15 tackles against Maryland. The most tackles in TCF Bank Stadium history by a Gopher is 17 by Nate Triplett in 2009.
While Barber's family has a rich Maroon and Gold history, they have never put any added pressure on him. They are just enjoying his success along with all the other Gopher fans.
"They are so far along from the game that they just try to enjoy the game now," Barber said. "They say they are always excited to see me up on the TV when they are watching at home or my dad is really excited when he's here watching me. He just tries to back off and let me play football."
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/102417aad.html
