JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?8aC<-Nz%I$3^~֖}sԎWW6;;0}ۅ$\7Pk{X'쏁">:C\ is$3WF?vb"̉JYr5P,iRhsϓLqǩS3z2|#@ LrOJFq]{fܚӥIJT8QK8QE ޜIT{Hzz^"l,LdGaY %\ݻ .F*Me9kʍB˙|E6lad`qzنAQ׮j ۖyI)#3ide9]pHU`:QL'v;✭a@×x 5cz-ЋT=knIZ:e$͌X4+Pj,AHX](lY FsWI[&9f$最ڙV`MB"pYSjќdvT=&iZ\ڭߕ,pz'+yj.\ qJM&-o>oM='_ƞNх?pqI;ťsGZq^()ΪQ1F=+SEeH1z(uvsɯFӬ"D.JҜ9䴊C r(؂-z]F-f'A5W/wt?V?5+.TA$Jpi\ҮT~\9=(T( HoCMQސ˂ c>x?YFSҸ HYeNǨ%t]9r" # _xC'6O\Ec'Z̄Ma$ޤ9$iN'ZJ4|v( 㰩cT1OZiv0zT:g9\?**'nܟ9ъ|RnjªJ# @ic 8RHw(9=*\<DF\$'409 } x 5>MVmq-A]^ E?*ŖZ( y YSkC_CFMm7lq\$,~W^]B&m}{W3P_E0/|ךʪv褯-Yae.#S^tim,`$@6ԕ<m͓]߀E8Y]o["5i 3ZY'0D܌'5obҝ~G[yt7/o)0:Vֱ aI4e`NrZE߅uc'gcy[Έڼw#:lvٕI$"뽈]zRJhޠɧ;pk3#R3cM 9횓ژ)}q@>P@y4Pz8`1g=OGQ A$7'@`;q{4a@ }*krB#S5nGcQ@K5bJ0滍-ݜ@WgRaa'?zgfӤyOCh h b:A5;"2'gMFE;Hɒ[PT<%4 #ڨesl78-TxY" 0);\X,2qZ/.c#8 %黲۱b}$PIʼcKWԧf"r8\@s֬ggf`RoS`#qQȸ0h:zUiS )ҀMHR P1\c T< ^ܞ{Th2vEX׽Kpd^9K>#ַl.A3doVkr݀a fvf#i p:zμZY1)L^Obz*D& rUERiM1W$*҂|9>,OK}|J;ªɻ;[C2ԫ(H=MWNo* cr"q?Tx늈hdqzqU#jl/cQQ;zQ@V G8U(لтyɪ0K=֔G-dAF&6BJd@:[b-q$҆M䲀GP]c]qzPznh/ >=z`d t+xֺ muc`I5Tmnpw6Z|fBp k[C Nx;JKV(.]͇ۋܕ$d:R ᔓH8k?.&7sʕ$2ր䃓PNi`Sf5` ZFhQ@ڟV7jm6,@s&IοgٝG"SҜ[̍jAqz@8Ej>_; GR(n̵ofy |'=fG$3=jŜFrIލִ$aFq2{ve&3TKsZ,Od7 d@zȘ8?%]y{Жԭ(?Bŀ8\Kd'I>V_*3Hʐ{ב|GK=c}mN+u65@^xUэ8^\;}GZiU3qֻ}$sSS@ĉ^]Y"ʥP8"9{7h0(@ڊ `/2՝%Ħl;`;kVc8ti~CnmkK׮aH]6=ćQu^ bTk8$ V)ne)|Y]R&<8ԁ7EDQU^͹a_ʇMtbU)qkKAUoX '|.~/cwʂ%Sҗ*s&|I4]ƑCd%yUʒFr+s>գĖА;$c<<`O 3z N6I~S#a'<*5%tcV GzxBJ1}JmVZ,Ik+b/ExNAf-{bDU ZpOJqW:[Vy6^sh,C=n,cR~/+LtT6ZW48yEj󚥥؋?*R`g s4mDG~ gB85J,<#pFEhkOc8$u}LӖ ʹYoF$y4VNO԰kVybr.{U$:Vxf+? [k4ASJGz(nQgJ(%IF!x!()aul}yrLs:(:aыM##o\'q:cQ[a׺pc>4,5‚8=Hd'ފ+vs$1l@G/NcR9wqR{[=7U52(mEX;XMRS@Ew9I8nj(ݐE;+XyOzĺZnHFOފ*_QGY#ZT»:rh r9=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 Bens 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.