JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?j( ( +*_h%IK.9 L_ٷA'?Ƌ05謓+@pV_4xȶ6|ي%cO{8IQpֳeZsYD#hSnZMH: cq֚(_Ly>N7=FL< sW܍+th4t2RFs ֠SKdWfK&H0O\t0(CߵY:}9JҲ6J5˝{cӂ0}*ԡ{#3dj5u|-̡Ojt[Aa$BPd+@[:*cmU cHG>LZ>B(((( ^b"XX߽zO'QKO%An$^[lH<-).|?uzˑ۷͏|cŸ sH8nA^V=-%dP}i2U?FG)ZmQq )x?ħ7ZV/mm!⛤kN=Mi^!Y40vAyXJUJAJ]Oz9]DžPDǜL dE;9zW9Yѕ cf5nv@M_GXf;- ReV Ŭe>V%GRvRlR8a>ȴmŴiJ#Ga),VP NcYI\ɕu޸mƶ#tMѻE:inX^IE>:璿֯$LAMu&2Kӟj9 lk$?Lcn1&Fxj#FNO6CZ;ݗ1#ɘe/KȡąWxxz)e+gzӵKd6d &Mqa5*Yv8.rqUl-$}y08SP[!1=f\]V}zVS* ii *rO== a)}Fj(IsŽ53<]Xt8-=?òZ&[3l{ם\ ,1F~gǽnxYLDR?ץ-tRmV IVA${ӽ9ާ^xSӢYo,3gBT2.b 5^#O)c6~yS4Y5iKV>Okd)((((d}z;l@ǯ\g*g26GW<>˦U'g&amZY:7\-Li`J- #e!CNҧfinD< < \ {H n[H5"Kr}ٽ6Deri΃ F7o|U+:h 07mnvSYV6q-Km=%˄;by'dDd@=~(qm+ =1{O X),wޥN1.'M= U"`$R58|N}*'%mgYHԂGj ښlf`~W_zR:]R_2<{!#7(\|0Sil 3֥on+\E 8Y cclmR>tS ( ( ( (<7➞ۛ8f<.1^[Tծ;WWmA֒dAmn>p9CGФ&8Ud<PЬIa3L;* >ޗ#ʋIG6] B,9؃$a\*K Iֹ-]Wf?tKJh*'viPCֺ@Am<yOOޤ3i[؛!fV;t?+jacB-r5@l-ePpC/FWgc9+s:B39K@\"WewmE:V\6 o9t'R;Q\Eea3VNWc]H7ֵ5\3=E$)4 eA>~ ۃd 2ǥs6w"dx毥Ҳ vVhM<90Rss,7ȼq>שG:wV)s?ʼK IfRE&j̓??G*8??G*@((((Ow.W<Er6ę#+g۬g\ rVighI, ٩w䋎8pW81">)еdJnNA=rs` W֖ŦCmLr[z_aG V,% E?g$'>ބpg PAhZG?IU.Rv5!EPEPEPQQKq80SMnC&fl|KpJUQ Q5ie%*^Yzq=Gٴ` y5x#)gr!-p>*]".ZP b([$[[v֫1>b:' ?5T}ive;ԠVJ} 9_ye!0 ԃ3QʪP* JrGt; H Mm JucV#j;$<֪Z VsRVg1I_Hŏj2y 4`㯵IcrsƑiu9:Tַ>D6v0@pzќkCb@A=?_JH byBen was a 1999 All-American and a pre-season 2000 All-American. He has also been selected as a 2000 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award Candidate. Ben states,  While growing up in Wayzata, playing for the University of Minnesota was always a dream for me. After my freshman year, I wasn t sure what to expect for the rest of my college career because of coaching changes. But, Coach Mason came in and changed the attitudes and expectations of Gopher football. I am very proud that I was part of transforming this program back into a winner. <br>Ben believes that hard work has gotten him where he is.  I ve used goal setting, says Ben.  Goals help you to stay focused. On a big day in the weight room or on the football field, I visualize being successful. I visualize beating the weight. I do the same in football by visualizing great execution. <br>The most inspirational person in Ben s life has been his father.  He has always been there for me, says Ben.  My father has been a good example. Ben s father was a former Minnesota Viking offensive lineman. He taught Ben well. Ben is the first offensive lineman to be named All-American since Outland Trophy winner Bobby Bell in 1962. <br>Ben red-shirted his first year and was a Scholar-Athlete winner. He started as a freshman in 1997 in all 12 games and was an All-Big Ten selection. The next year Ben was a pre-season honorable mention All-American. In addition to being a first team All-American last year, Ben was named the team s Paul Giel award winner, which honors the player who exhibits total unselfishness and most concern about the University of Minnesota. <br>One of the pre-season teams that Ben made was the Playboy All-American team. He turned them down.  My relationship with God is the most important thing in my life, explained Ben.  Turning down Playboy was hard because lineman don t get many honors. But I didn t want to give a mixed message. If you are a Christian, you should lead by example. <br>Ben leads by example in other areas. He doesn t smoke, chew or do drugs.  You can find that stuff, Ben says.  I ve just never wanted to try it. Ben carries a 3.2 GPA. He is never late to class. In fact, one of his traits is that he is always early. Ben has missed zero tests.<br> I don t miss things, says Ben.  You have to pay attention to time management. I have a day planner type of calendar. Besides, I really like my classes, especially math and my major. Ben will graduate in Civil Engineering and, after whatever happens in pro football, wants to manage construction projects. <br>Karon did not lift weights at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit.  Because, says Karon,  I was always in sports. I played three sports and I was naturally strong. Karon was All-State in both football and basketball. He also ran a 10.8 100 meters at 210 pounds. Karon carried a 3.65 GPA.<br>Karon never did drugs or drank alcohol in high school.  Never, exclaimed Karon!  I was petrified. I was scared to drink. A lot of my friends did. I was usually the mediator. Detroit is not a good place not to be sober. My uncle was a police officer and I learned that it was just not worth it. <br>Being in the  hood was part of Karon s everyday life while growing up. He gives the following advice to survive:  First, be aware and be smart. Second, be down to earth. Don t try to seem better than others. Third, be careful where you go and who you are with. You can be guilty by association. <br>Karon chose SMU to play football and made an immediate impact. He became a starter for the Mustangs at mid-season during his true freshman year. Karon also did well the