European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 25, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes wednesday april 252007 sports Arod keeps up hot Pace with 2 More hrs yanks Arent so hot Page 38 historically relevant Small Black colleges proud to have big role in nil draft by Joseph White the associated press Washington Antoine Xetheas super bowl ring looks pretty Good to Geoff Pope and not just because there close mends Bethea is an inspirational Story for any nil Prospect at a historically Black school chosen late in the sixth round last year by Indianapolis the safety from Howard University be came a starter As a Rookie had two interceptions in the playoffs and helped the Colts win then title now Pope has a Chance to be the next Howard player headed for the pros his Speed alone 429 in the 40yard dash has him projected As a late round pick at this week ends draft seeing Bethea go through that it Doest get any better than that Pope said he had a lot of people saying he  play at that level and to go on and Star like that through out the playoffs and the super bowl and get raves huge not Only for me but for anybody else at a Small school that s trying to make it big Howard also had safety Ron Bartell selected by St Louis in the second round in 2005 and tackle Marques Ogden went to Jackson Ville in the sixth round in 2003 not bad for a mideastern athletic conference school that int exactly piling up the pet contract want renewed at the end of last season after a 2530 record Over five years but howards modest draft Success Doest even touch whats happening this year at Hampton a mean school in Virginia and also one of the historically Black colleges and universities the pirates had five players invited to the nil Combine a record for a division Ian school and one More than the number invited from Southern Cal Star linebacker Justin Durant was expected to be invited to the Combine he is listed among the top linebackers in the draft by Sev eral analysts joining him among the 335 league invitees at the Combine from Hampton were Travarous Bain a cornerback who had transferred from Miami running Back Alonzo Coleman and receivers Onrea Jones and Marquay Mcdaniel i think if s probably a testament to what you Are seeing in a Blu the staffs Are a lot More organized said Hampton coach Joseph Taylor whose team has won three straight mean titles they go out and do a great Job of recruiting and then of course the actual development the teaching the film study you put that with a real Good strength and Condi Alex Colts safety Antoine Bethea 41 tackles bears running Back Thomas Jones during super Bow Al Xetheas jump from Howard University to a starting Job in the nil As a Rookie has Given other players at historically Black colleges and universities Hope that they can make the jump from a Small division Ian school to the pros despite what one analyst called dwindling Odds Tracy a Post cornerback Travarous Bain runs through drills during Hampton pro Day for nil scouts Bain who transferred from Miami to get More playing time ran a 443 40 at the Combine toning program it shows that we Are develop ing Young men and if they have aspirations for going on then that Opportunity can come at the a Blu yet while improved of season regimens Are helping the development of players at Black colleges ifs hard to play con next thedous and say the schools Are enjoying a Renaissance when it comes to supplying the nil with Talent they routinely have a smattering of players chosen in the later rounds but As nil draft consultant Gil Brandt Points out there Hast been a first round pick from an a Blu since Sylvester Morris Kansas City and Rashard Anderson Carolina were both taken from Jackson state in 2000 its always Good to see those schools get players Brandt said but the Odds Are dwindling see draft on Page 34 saturday 6 pm of Sporis first round order 1 Oakland 2 Detroit 3 Cleveland 4 Tampa Bay 5 Arizona 6 Washington 7 Minnesota 8 Atlanta from Houston 9 Miami 10 Houston from Atlanta 11 san Francisco 12 Buffalo 13 St Louis 14 Carolina 15 Pittsburgh 16 Green Bay 17 Jacksonville 18 Cincinnati 19 Tennessee 20 new York giants 21 Denver 22 Dallas 23 Kansas City 24 new England from Seattle 25 new York jets 26 Philadelphia 27 new Orleans 28 new England 29 Baltimore 30 san Diego 31 Chicago 32 Indianapolis pistons rockets take 20 leads in playoff series 027664 ii 463149