15 questions with... Ben Klaus, a Penn sprint football junior

The Daily Pennsylvanian asked Penn sprint football's Ben Klaus 15 questions about his sport, his time at Penn, and his life overall. Here's what the junior wide receiver, tight end, and linebacker had to say. 

1. Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Ben Klaus. I’m an economics major from Haddonfield, N.J., about 20 minutes outside of Penn. 

2. Did you pick up any hobbies during quarantine? 

I went golfing a bit. I played a lot of tennis and basketball with my friends outside. It was one of my escapes out of the house.

3. How long have you been playing football and what made you start playing? 

I started playing football probably when I was in kindergarten. I have three brothers, my older brother played football, my dad has a big family and they all played football. We’re just kind of a football family. So, I started when I was really young and I played all the way through until now in college.

4. How do you feel about not being able to play this season, and do you have hope for the spring?  

When we heard the news that we weren’t playing, everyone was really upset. The only thing we can do is have hope for the spring, and we’re preparing like we’re going to have a spring season.

5. How has it been adjusting to online classes? 

It hasn’t been that bad. I don’t mind being able to create my schedule asynchronously, but days can be very long staring at a screen for multiple hours a day.

6. What do you think is the biggest challenge in training and staying in shape during a remote semester? 

The biggest challenge is staying in a routine and staying on schedule and committing to your routine because it is easy to make excuses when your team isn’t watching you or your coaches aren’t there in the room with you. 

7. Do you have a pre-game ritual? If so, what is it?

My pre-game ritual would be just listening to music with all my teammates, get hyped up, and usually I would go in the bathroom and put on my eye black right before we go out for our pre-game warm ups.  

8. Do you have any hype music recommendations?

I usually listen to a lot of hip hop like Drake or Travis Scott.

9. What has your experience playing sprint football at Penn been like? 

The experience has been a blast. It’s like the best of both worlds where you’re getting a full committed football program while also attending a great school.  

10. What positions do you play, and what do you like about it/them the most? 

At Penn, I’ve been bouncing around and playing multiple positions where the team needs me. I’ve been playing a ton of wide receiver. It’s been really fun. And I like tight end a lot because, again it’s the best of both worlds where you get to go out for passes, but you also get a block, and get more involved in plays.  

11. What is your favorite football memory of your life? 

Overall it’s just being a part of the team. I can remember each year what the dynamic was, the chemistry, and just kind of put myself back in those shoes. Probably, in high school, I was a part of two championships which was really special. 

12. If you didn’t play football, what other sport would you play?

I would probably wrestle or play lacrosse because that’s what I did my whole life also.  

13. What professional sports teams do you root for and who are your sport idols? 

I root for all of the Philadelphia sports teams, the Eagles, Sixers, Flyers, Phillies. Who do I look up to,  Carson Wentz and some leaders on the Eagles. 

14. What are some of your favorite spots on campus? 

I love to get pizza at Allegro’s, probably one of my favorites, or chicken parm there. 

15. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I honestly have no idea where I’ll end up. But I see myself being happy, working hard, and just being an asset to wherever I end up.