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Y o!&pz:q1u݀=* sk65: xbq%դFFBwˣ2FT)%QS8+-{(PsW銾n<#Xh\\K0]>WB"׼7oZ&IF9溛Fkذ2ʧӠbqk]Z U[T@'#]M6IG]0EJzϺRY@E|:J܂T19(Ts?_ZQ[?Xzj/E:a4R{oƐ8Y}MOoj- sR\[ހHc;X/GP&l+MqjfDm"1"\ ŪoTb3W"շB;n#c9W,>d\ٷO7PhwqOcZm1-NEVAa׊H3rÅ;l&Q` X# zSfY%S*#5|M̈́I MҦ4#:iCW$ǒ1?z 6$,y^Un*bxVsՆǩ'''W;/aV;$!o4\pN"t?s:5֞)/ :(VM|$3ʮ? ]2\1 Tc|H}I2t"YSY$Qs? iqúsr?JS: )1#H u: K]ou)$ 8lMv׼;%qxuLJLg2 ;ncyjXw['%{~?Ҋ[VrG4DIP1HlcEQ@z5}CWḇz*"Uz&]R[ ųMRBM<+qumqc]n|pN~n?ZoRy#;*G^y- tʶ+YS{&=̓G4egȬBrO'OLL UTJߌ,O^w{Pw]Fr =OӴD|T:+O6,@8%AkB`Lo Yh[ۢ!m;Uw G39 8ᴛtkbLL$\֬=CÏn=*kO2.s ]{ն쮐ah:?Wb1\GQ7u2%FvqzwqT GaަK%S+90C "m27'#]%yW?j6ɐk*7RZEs`֤Qwq="L/׷ >\ ⛂q杝gDLpGLc֤~GNُJ 튄u'&f?`(Sã7 g_QKოJO{{+9nIO1T"F+3B͂H>YH+hvtGf@,iar~(utFHaytz}im I +Hb֓\|[FdUp/!wvz}…yqg9>#j#5g8׭?xdX ǧSJv)f@O4Q2ݗ;y*EL(E?qthQA!wdu4=xz_4:;Q[8cG( ~qEqӹC!P"-֠n:v䶷qEVr܃ <br>Ben 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 monumental decision was made. He transferred to Minnesota. However, according to NCAA rules, Karon sat out the first year, but was given the Defens