JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?Zk:3BkN1;(`[e=&?Qhwk=ħ`V H? ٮb!F?mj6O\#2 #zJPw=JK'Or-Axbhm=?¹q{&޺\i7&7WFrx]UaV)\ g[BCj:yEa)Ȼ^zI1yoڬr|u#\q3ĒS̊mxMJ)$(>Gz]>VUx?mN\Je)*Hr? Y'K+.[=sO[h.'95RX.#Aݵq:$)h e>W$~u"=_CUf ,q T=Fذ˗֮f}B`LHsItx'')"Wb=7R=:f#?qZ6&K<0=4xg\mOJ?&?T|'"쇻LقrϝQ>h$YϑvI>[~)h* ?> S{' =BX'(J3KSeh\=AP+8I$5͋Mѕ(<7^XtHp:Ps^kZO[^9}<19#NC1onB͕W-)SZuw,if+fv=dZ)ld;pxA$&|+,wwlsŽPҲ;FZ\RNcIFp=ae˭hmdg2G5WOt{?ʵT7T 57jZtZA/Հָ-GL:3>} t>%5=2V`H:5o2ïҊ18…jJj ߉_K;Vu{F.|G"U]?T,m=k4K]R}ẻ)F"S4tF;PZ3x"{if$#ڳASy#]`L/8 =둎[>24OVSW[r~󿁴S:\NkN=+gT&F 2dr%\|=+ b`>{[(.qh#e5SY|Iı6XÞGC{[1W&u*t+VXstixfVIz5At~֨9M/,^}E*}EI/j +^_1Z*.V;mR{xn"HɌҵZ=Q4V$J.єm=* k\|aVU։s\ZIm eA3$R n ^eIDr4|#r㰽FbCZica2vd~&T:KYmF2咀r:(mnqk=Vhx&42)]q Ǜ[;xIi)#ШSI_3׼BS[v2+#Ce=r8攨_ƜWmC@GYqjIxHE"OwrLmPĒܠDžmx-">57I.=ACƝ[M-2/)W*N0&{`o ksxsq[.cm&C&#>٧'/t1,%(.XFrdT9ShҤv:{k9"&i.29\k\hڮ82[_fu 2m*,nzqfMye>MVdD4C'Һcɫ1Hc@{dn}K׵;xaD|3w{V-.SU "'#DZBι;ڍ JbKgEYJ>G8JӦYH ˚DbߑݎZ$`μ48cwϯR?c麖i]/|x(G1i4}e%5mH,UV鞇]>mx[Mk^AJאzNX}tlmVk#A,=}}s[ekN.8;RSv3 }w^7m݀G'׵ak^ݪ(cq&v0۽z>{ =9NmH{nhdH2߈ I"z "4ѮU=.7sV5/7ֵ%K7HAz=h+H\>S&.-z(νTY (E#Zx3 Uf#-%Y/%FYG\ "^hqZ9.UIB6Xk)nol@B;;y$U:E .,<:ھ! zUIY$ϪFpYHf+sQ|߀ueQs[j?3 [ ҽ t `OY½#B\@i7hG TSjZd1PM?[.AG5`<k?~Q Dg8u{ J2жw"TH]e9%{/5&-ҝ0z`s`|ȕE|SUj J_i1%Ѣ^0)CdPOzREE^Ol)Y1Nʰ}؝1msmdBen 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 following year but he wanted to be closer to home. Thus, a monum