THE LATEST LINE: AREA STARS TRY TO MAKE NFL ROSTERS

Two area products -- Southeast Missouri State University's Marquis Walker and Angel Rubio -- have already fulfilled their dreams of making it to the National Football League.

Beginning this week, three more locals will begin trying to overcome long odds and ultimately earn spots on NFL rosters.

Nathan Norman, Scott Pingel and Brian Hinton -- all undrafted free agents -- will participate in their respective teams' training camps that start this week.

Norman, a former Jackson High standout who started at fullback for the University of Arkansas, is with the Carolina Panthers.

Pingel, a former St. Vincent High standout who had a record-setting career as a wide receiver at Division III Westminster College in Fulton, is with the Buffalo Bills.

Hinton, who starred as a cornerback at SEMO and led the Ohio Valley Conference in interceptions last season, is with the Kansas City Chiefs.

There is no question that Norman, Pingel and Hinton all face extremely long odds in the coming weeks as they try to open enough eyes to survive the numerous cuts of training camp.

But for inspiration, they need look no further than Walker, who was also a free agent but has already played four NFL seasons and has solidly established himself as a key reserve cornerback for the Oakland Raiders.

Last year, Walker played in all 16 games and had one interception. A former St. Louis Ram, Walker has made 11 career starts and has intercepted four passes.

Rubio, currently with the Arizona Cardinals, was also not a big-time prospect as the noseguard was a seventh-round draft pick in 1998. But he's already been in the NFL for two years, although he has seen action in only two games.

So dreams can certainly come true, as Walker and Rubio have demonstrated. Here's hoping Norman, Pingel and Hinton can follow in their footsteps.

* The Canadian Football League season recently started and Calgary's Kelvin Anderson, SEMO's all-time leading rusher, has firmly established himself as one of that circuit's top running backs.

Anderson, in his fifth CFL season, is a two-time all-star.

Another former SEMO star runner, Dione Tyler, is also in the CFL this year, with Saskatchewan. Tyler, who last played for SEMO in 1995, went to training camp with Edmonton last season but was released prior to the campaign.

* Sources tell me that SEMO, which still has one available scholarship, is among the schools being considered by point guard Bobby Smith, who is transferring from Villanova.

Smith, a Chicago native, started 17 games for Villanova as a sophomore last season, averaging 6.3 points, 4.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds.

* Capaha Field should definitely be buzzing with excitement today when fierce rivals the McDowell Capahas and St. Louis O.B. Clark play at 4:30 p.m. for the NBC Mid-South Regional title.

Area baseball fans won't want to miss this one.

~Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian