JFIFC    $ &%# #"(-90(*6+"#2D26;=@@@&0FKE>J9?@=C  =)#)==================================================" }!1AQa"q2#BR$3br %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz w!1AQaq"2B #3Rbr $4%&'()*56789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz ?yj"Q.zcQ2<ϳkZ#ԊrPGb:ӊGUvBs@ ߊxx)xlg4x1qQ3T@#Rt=[qjC*8<*&^1Jڢ`=;Prå4n1tM+T{ST/0 e}Xe *&^{U\lU_j׊ژ̾TP)3۷_̩a~[QZdvHڤAhG#ʞ{ oqNHSzS$ v6p$tl4tLHȬ77Fp% 3R2edEnC  xڞo6iY䱮‡VFH"yJ0>|cz| w6!.'mB7 ~-"푻[ -m`y<Ҩ[HÒf$sz&}1;b@XOĽqq?L󆱊#ifbFYSf1g1n%ʚǔ^7CRY 㔏'P~ j1Y;_&q25 ͞-o"yYg.q}85o?z͋S?@v%v E ipi5smhMkr]9bysjkicu2^ֵ{?Ms$zubqۭyF%֢bʯLWS]OE\@jVBwKq csJ#RVZ&%Q r8$z⼻EGnn+|'ֽ6 4cq.B#fd+o^$a`  yEiڹR*28hYw`VS s܊H5I[,^H<=FYƞ]^j!^O:zu)*pB(Axĩp[G?޺/ i4[r2pC :NT;]ʾ"oP}iҹ6zV6<It}CLEtP=A=𦍨wU{%e)q̐Nߴv:6^=P-qq~8 ayyRa_2 2)i8:,ISrfkUU~u;לjamo,;|. ~fTx xfb[^vW--O ͖Qjݿ.+w'y0)-OMc׸T+>54Z%𽾸Kb"3$鋥0BE&c yέ]NUqB 9Mp$z_+nBp9ݒ}zT_4"K{6Hu_iceVj)6%;r`ߝv>lu=6WIQp\j0\$U6vAisD"0[zz~i$C/eǕ*6V#}kcNC n65x~H54Ȏy\4}Z$E-B ܨ˓XBG5OxJ Qɍ~ M$g#Vc4A8CGq[p-Qw*8ע:=< OceF[0 $;dni;‹~MTW9u%ZKU ,~ZqҡRVA7\AAî' wS{)-N7>&{JOi.7zug|*],e3Ϸ<{s-!c=r՛X /*jh}G ^ %Skss[&%j]C1TDʃ7; *U5[𷆷.YBT@=+bxoaFun(U aGjmN;ԴFI '~i4ڻ2HsrGNܷcpmXv 2g:_!\~қxS֔5dn>HR2?*œw5݃y+?˵lAӹ^8<>6*N:O-|^TVs 'U)]8%H=1֠Sm1 e]gB+{8m?%`r3MyNn#+>l^L-fKԝI1sZ/K2FzRn,F<1hݔx QZ'ljo ՝D,m14W$tUɪNޔx1ʠ O|L(aPVt t 1HhE1n~t!*ьSpzn]ޞ%LDH>+Idkavg*A> dmN~`$>SZo4^tR89fcRLEB m9Qy6I9R1b`VjXs*D]fsR qrq֧0qc.":ӌEOcPi;TTHdj>nGjhJcwL*͜ qޜccA/f'a\od;k "~b*RےiT+u~[g$}h12(ɠgMaG o1L ُ$Α}QO1)@eW#LK}hr޼R!4 $@)n1Ҟ$^qҁI) IE8z)C`NepyTЖl#\Tzz -+ґ#5aҗ CGgnqNIG{T@e)Q?J|((sSX#${Ov^[8ME^Ҝ1 Lǎ,N6d)32#9?tzsր&YCi5& *ASG#hE@"y"GC@ɑҫ F:PJE0##<@lǽFi <=Zr^)ڦO)0>zcXdԦ rwX2K6M .+(l{v@@WT CpݩUt9D~LA*9#v`=qRn%x'ZRLb>t UP:,tF Sր$^ 8LݐAZLyN?tJ+tpu:t)8!\S Q@. He had a 400 parallel squat and ran a 5.4 forty. He was a USA Today Honorable Mention All-America and an All-State selection. Ben also lettered in tennis and was an honor roll student. However, the University of Minnesota was his only big-time college offer. Says Ben,  I was optimistic, but I knew I had to work hard to become bigger, faster and stronger. <br>By the 2000 season, Ben had achieved a 385 Bench, a 390 Hang Clean, a 330 Power Clean, a 525 Parallel Squat, a 5.0 forty and a 32.5 Vertical Jump. He can dunk a basketball now at 280 pounds. Coach Hartman says,  Ben numbers aren t as great as some others but what sets him apart is his athleticism and flexibility. 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 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 manag