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Gophers freshman RBs Rodney Smith, Shannon Brooks good together on, off field

Former Gophers running back Laurence Maroney was all smiles as he paraded around TCF Bank Stadium during the University of Minnesota's Homecoming game last Saturday.

But before Minnesota's second all-time leading rusher was honored during and after the Gophers' comeback 27-24 victory over Ohio, Maroney told KFXN-FM about times when he wasn't grinning.

When Maroney visited the U from St. Louis in high school, he "didn't get along" with upperclassman running back Marion Barber III. After Maroney signed his letter of intent in 2003, "we really still didn't get along."

That animosity is quite the contrast to the affection between two Gophers standout freshman tailbacks, Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks.