by Adam Burns
Sports Editor
The Houston Cougars football players who were drafted Saturday and Sunday by the NFL draft all have to have one thing in common if they are to make it in the pros other than honing their skills: They need to learn to adapt to cold weather.
Tailback Antowain Smith was the 23rd player selected in the draft Saturday when the Buffalo Bills called his name.
Offensive lineman Marcus Spriggs has a shot to continue to be Smith's teammate after the Bills picked him in the sixth round.
Houston quarterback Chuck Clements was a sixth-round pick of the New York Jets and Cougars defensive back Delmonico Montgomery was picked by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round.
Spriggs was pleased to be heading to the same place as Smith, even though neither of them played a college game further North than Pittsburgh - and that was in September.
"Me and Antowain are good friends," he said. "His being (in Buffalo) is just another plus."
Buffalo can be considered either a veteran team or a team that's on the brink of rebuilding, which can work either way for Smith and Spriggs.
Smith will contend to become the eventual replacement for Thurman Thomas.
Spriggs is not concerned with contending with veterans for a spot on the roster.
"I can't worry about any variables," he said. "I can just go in and do what I want to do. If I have to go through a brick wall, that's what I'll do.
They have a lot of veterans," Spriggs said of the Bills. "I'm coming in with a young attitude."
The 1997 draft was not generally considered strong as far as quarterbacks go.
"A lot of teams are looking for a quarterback," Clements said.
Clements would have the opportunity to work under Jets strength and conditioning coach John Lott, who held the same position for UH until February when he was hired by New York.
Montgomery was the third player in the conference to be drafted.
"I think getting the opportunity to go to the NFL is mine and really every players dream," he said. "I thank God for the opportunity and for giving me the talent and chance to go to the next level and to play in the NFL."
Montgomery drew praise from his mother after being drafted Sunday.
"We're proud of him," Helen Montgomery said. "(Playing in the NFL) is all he's talked about since high school."
Ten other Conference USA players were drafted, but only Smith and second-round pick Sam Madison of Louisville were picked in the first three rounds.
Madison, a defensive back picked by the Miami Dolphins, was one of four Cardinals drafted.
Linebacker Tyrus McCloud and defensive lineman Leland Taylor were both drafted by the Baltimore Ravens.
Defensive lineman Carl Powell will join Montgomery in Indianapolis.
The Memphis Tigers had three defensive players drafted, led by defensive lineman Tony Williams, who was a fifth-round selection by Minnesota.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made Memphis linebacker Richard Hogans a sixth-round draft pick and the Chicago Bears picked up UM defensive lineman Marvin Thomas in the seventh round.
The Cincinnati Bearcats had two players picked: Defensive back Sam Garnes was picked in the fifth round by the New York Giants and wide receiver Robert Tate was a sixth-round pick by Minnesota.
The sole Tulane Green Wave player to be drafted was running back Jerald Sowell.
Southern Miss, the Conference USA co-champion with Houston, was the only team in the conference not to have any players drafted.