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Photo by: Bruce Kluckhohn
Under the Helmet: Thomas Barber
11/23/2018 9:04:00 AM | Football
Our final Under the Helmet Q and A of the year is with Thomas Barber. Barber is third on the team with 69 tackles, has 1.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery. He does not have a single defensive penalty in his entire career despite seeing almost every single defensive snap as the "Mike" linebacker the past two seasons. According to Pro Football Focus, he has played 1,337 defensive snaps (24 in 2016, 747 in 2017 and 566 in 2018) in college. The only penalty of his career came on a special teams play when he was called for holding against Northwestern as a freshman in 2016.
Gopher Sports: You have a long line of Gopher football players in your family, how have they helped you improve your game? Do they ever coach you or give you advice?
Thomas Barber: They always give me advice, but it's not about the X's and O's, it's really just about keeping my body healthy and being a team player and getting that degree. They are always there for me, they usually only help when I ask them because they don't want to act like they are forcing things on me so usually when I ask them questions they answer, but they never force anything on me.
GS: How have you grown as a player?
TB: Just leadership qualities. That is one thing I really needed to improve on just with the team and then obviously getting into the playbook more. So those two things, leadership and knowing the playbook more.
GS: With a young team how have you stepped up into a leadership role?
TB: Always being more vocal. I need to be a vocal leader and not be afraid to be the bad, you need to check people every once in a while. So that's how you got to get these young guys up and ready. We only have nine scholarship seniors, coach always emphasis that, nothing wrong with that but we have a young team so he has to rely on the juniors too to help.
GS: What is your game day routine like?
TB: It depends on how I'm feeling, sometimes I'll get stretched out, but after warm-ups I'll go back in and listen to "I will Survive" on reply until we go out. People make fun of me for it, but it gets me juiced up.
GS: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you do besides listening to that one song?
TB: I always put things on left first, so left sock, left pants on first, that is really the only thing that I do that is superstitious. I don't try to, it just happens. If I do put something on right first, I'll take it off right away and put it on left.
GS: Who on the team could win an arm wrestling tournament?
TB: That's easy, Faalele. I've never seen someone come in here and just dominate everybody with the physical aspects of tug-of-war and what not, so for sure Daniel Faalele. He's a strong guy.
GS: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
TB: Flying because I hate walking and traffic is awful.
GS: If you could hang out with any celebrity for a day, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
TB: That's hard. Probably Lebron James, just seeing how he goes about life. You never hear about him in the media with scandals or what he has done for kids with Akron and all-around the country. Seeing how he lives his life and how he is very giving of what he has received personally, it would be awesome to spend time with him. And maybe get some Lebron shoes.
Gopher Sports: You have a long line of Gopher football players in your family, how have they helped you improve your game? Do they ever coach you or give you advice?
Thomas Barber: They always give me advice, but it's not about the X's and O's, it's really just about keeping my body healthy and being a team player and getting that degree. They are always there for me, they usually only help when I ask them because they don't want to act like they are forcing things on me so usually when I ask them questions they answer, but they never force anything on me.
GS: How have you grown as a player?
TB: Just leadership qualities. That is one thing I really needed to improve on just with the team and then obviously getting into the playbook more. So those two things, leadership and knowing the playbook more.
GS: With a young team how have you stepped up into a leadership role?
TB: Always being more vocal. I need to be a vocal leader and not be afraid to be the bad, you need to check people every once in a while. So that's how you got to get these young guys up and ready. We only have nine scholarship seniors, coach always emphasis that, nothing wrong with that but we have a young team so he has to rely on the juniors too to help.
GS: What is your game day routine like?
TB: It depends on how I'm feeling, sometimes I'll get stretched out, but after warm-ups I'll go back in and listen to "I will Survive" on reply until we go out. People make fun of me for it, but it gets me juiced up.
GS: Do you have any superstitions or rituals you do besides listening to that one song?
TB: I always put things on left first, so left sock, left pants on first, that is really the only thing that I do that is superstitious. I don't try to, it just happens. If I do put something on right first, I'll take it off right away and put it on left.
GS: Who on the team could win an arm wrestling tournament?
TB: That's easy, Faalele. I've never seen someone come in here and just dominate everybody with the physical aspects of tug-of-war and what not, so for sure Daniel Faalele. He's a strong guy.
GS: If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
TB: Flying because I hate walking and traffic is awful.
GS: If you could hang out with any celebrity for a day, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
TB: That's hard. Probably Lebron James, just seeing how he goes about life. You never hear about him in the media with scandals or what he has done for kids with Akron and all-around the country. Seeing how he lives his life and how he is very giving of what he has received personally, it would be awesome to spend time with him. And maybe get some Lebron shoes.
Game Trailer: Gophers-Bears
Friday, September 12
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Rout Demons
Tuesday, September 09
Cinematic Recap: Gophers Win 66-0
Monday, September 08
Highlights: Gophers 66, Northwestern State 0
Saturday, September 06