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(鏫:B5|("?(1V~+lto ]iS b f6b{F}wO h۴Nb,Xn\d7'4$7'cU;2x:M kWW s!V.pys\oxEK;m[ܡn^P̘ǷH派؍oC9+H6I>Q֜fZkFe3²:#<Y! +~ BѾ5֗<ڼ /"温Kf⅑u 4VA<~Uny_+5j/T;GZѴ+j7+Pq:օa`Y($ǩ<->(X $i/nnXo#HF P8tcnT.ѻwԩ&{ k'aŸI >̩Y:Vt8 u3}ƋE,̫dz$r{V͎}g&kW^۹XWw[} [fn"7U#c;`ֺ/.}.uI!ד"h}xQ]UK/Fx+L 9h-G@O ڱt_F.;\ORB|,O}c6χX"XbA zpH={W.F? {>ZfW=ṓPE$=9*[OxwP/$Q@<TG4+18aQ= s_tWZ[xK: ;wk8J&dmeI!`͏LyZY&b}I^a }ƪ%Y)՘.ჷq+Ȃfg2d_0=KXzoSK%p1Q_>v֐M,G۞Gj>*7>klaוhxEP-b7.ddb=R iwW[3m<H=k'^iڝ | dO\U[C/Ḋ"pzuR3&hJ^Asep 8( >!O=Q2I.PUԯ~ /n^[`EXW>oW5uc^\xxb,ImQHp2zpe[wh扃V4QLF]C*ku2F*~:;(Q9^B_xYbK}SR[xGn7@Y /p8=Zt}[Q8GpN:4QL &iNvJA^*9K].y50Fz)Ђt]ENQ@#RP16)e4Q@4{ع^HAqmVΉvRmQEity. So he is a great athlete who has gotten continually stronger and better. <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 fiel, 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 plannertype 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