MINNEAPOLIS — Sunshine, mostly blue skies and 85-degree temperatures delivered a picturesque backdrop on Wednesday at Huntington Bank Stadium, while Gary Hines and the Sounds of Blackness provided the soothing soundtrack for the celebration of life for former Minnesota Gophers running back Marion Barber III.
A gathering of family, friends and fans — some wearing Barber's No. 21 jersey with the Gophers, others in his No. 24 with the Dallas Cowboys — said goodbye to Barber, who died June 1 at his Frisco, Texas, apartment, nine days shy of his 39th birthday.
Teammates with both the Gophers and the Cowboys, including Terrell Owens, bid farewell to the player who helped Minnesota return to prominence with its strong running game and whose nickname "Marion the Barbarian'' became popular during his time with the Cowboys.
