A proud father, Marion Barber talks about life after football

A proud father, Marion Barber talks about life after football
Home 830 WCCO Local Sports Local A proud father, Marion Barber talks about life after football A proud father, Marion Barber talks about life after football By Susie Jones , 830 WCCO

Former University of Minnesota and NFL star Marion Barber continues to have a rooting interest in the Gopher football team. His son Thomas is a redshirt senior this year, his third to play ball at the ‘U.’

The elder Barber is an educational assistant at Armstrong High School in Plymouth. He also teaches driver’s-ed and coaches the 9th grade football team.  In addition to Thomas, he is the father of Marion Barber III, a former Gopher running back who spent seven seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Dallas Cowboys, and Dominique (Dom) Barber, a former Gopher who was a defensive back in the NFL.

Recently he sat down with our Susie Jones to reminisce about his path to Minnesota, which he has called home for over four decades.

‘I grew up in Detroit,’ he says sitting in the auditorium at the high school. ‘Pretty much grew up in a house with a single mother, my mom did remarry. My stepfather passed, my senior year in high school.’　

Minnesota was the first college visit he took. ‘It was one of the last conversations I had with him,’ he said. ‘I went to the hospital, and he told me if that’s where I want to go, I should go.’　

His mother wanted him to play for Michigan. ‘She promised she would buy me a car if I stayed, but I decided on Minnesota,’ he said.

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He came to Minnesota in 1977.　

‘I played under Cal Stoll my first two years,’ he said. ‘My last two years were under Smokey Joe Salem.’　

He never dreamed about playing in the NFL, which at the time was different than it is now.　

‘I think my junior year I started getting letters from teams in the NFL and then agents and lawyers started to call.’　

He said back then, players went to different cities to work out for different teams.　

‘But it was interesting because New York was one of the last teams I visited, and it just so happened that the recruiter with the Jets was at the Japan Bowl where we met, and that’s how it happened.’　

He joined the Jets in 1981.　

‘My first year, I had a major concussion and I missed the entire season, my second year was the strike season. I went through two strikes in the NFL, believe it or not.’　

He was with the Jets for 7 active seasons and was cut in 1989.　

‘It just so happened that I had just done an internship here in Minnesota at Hennepin County Home School, a residential facility for juvenile delinquents.’　

They hired him almost immediately. After several different career moves, he found himself at Armstrong High School.　

‘Probably one of the most fulfilling jobs I’ve ever had,’ he said.　

He says he feels blessed to have three well-rounded and kind sons, and a beautiful wife Karen, who he has been married to for 37 years.　

Karen and Dom were the ones who encouraged Marion to go back to the U to finish his degree. After playing four seasons with Houston, Dom came back to Minnesota. ‘He said ‘Dad, they have a program where they welcome back former athletes who have not completed their degree’.’

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He says there was no excuse not to finish because the program was free.　

‘Once I got started in the program that I graduated from, it was a warm and pleasant surprise for me. I really enjoy learning, the professors and of course the students.’　

It just so happens that one of his classmates has been dating his son Thomas for two years.　

Watching his three sons play at the University of Minnesota has been a treat. ‘It’s exciting,’ he said.　

As far as giving advice?

‘The biggest thing I always say is that athletics are something that you know you can do, but I’ve always talked about school and education, and you get that in order, other things will happen for you.’　

Thomas now plays linebacker with the Golden Gopher football team.　

‘It’s been a fun experience for him and seeing how they have progressed as a team, of course this is coach Fleck’s third season, and we all are looking forward to the season.’

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