James Conner telling his story on " The Ellen DeGeneres Show ."
Photo by Michael Rozman , Warner Bros .
W ell before the University of Pittsburgh football player ’ s
diagnosis of Hodgkin ’ s lymphoma last November , James Conner was on the media ’ s radar as one of the top running backs in college football . Now he is known for something bigger .
Posting impressive stats like 36 touchdowns and 2,641 rushing yards already in his career , plus winning ACC Player of the Year in 2014 , is only half the James Conner story .
Since the public announcement of his health status at a press conference midway through the football season last year , Conner has shared his journey and used it to encourage others , showing that his strength of character and determination extend beyond the football field .
“ I think everyone who battles cancer should be treated the way I was treated — like they are special too . I am now trying to use what I learned during this battle to help others who have their own battles they must face ,” says Conner .
The young athlete endured six months of chemotherapy treatments every two weeks . Undeterred by the side effects , he rallied to participate in as many team practices as possible at Pitt , doing as much as the doctors would allow and unwilling to let go of his dream to play football .
Conner says one of the biggest surprises that ’ s come from this experience has been the overwhelming support from the community , including people he ’ s never met , even celebrities .
“ I have boxes of mail with so many great cards and letters that really helped me get through six months of chemotherapy . I even got a card from President Bill Clinton ,” he says .
When Conner broke the bad news to his Pitt teammates last fall , he showed an inspirational video of Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry , who had returned to football after his battle with the same type of cancer Conner was diagnosed with .
Berry caught wind of the running back ’ s story from a scout and personally called him .
In April , Conner was a guest on “ The Ellen DeGeneres Show .” In typical Ellen fashion , she surprised him with a visit from Berry . At the time , Conner was still undergoing treatments and was not yet certain that the chemo would be successful .
“ I think everyone who battles cancer should be treated the way I was treated — like they are special too . I am now trying to use what I learned during this battle to help others who have their own battles they must face .”
“ My goal is still the same ; it ’ s just a little postponed . Hopefully , I can still achieve that dream of the NFL ,” Conner told Ellen during the interview .
In June , Conner got the long-awaited call . His cancer is gone . He won the battle .
Erie has rallied around him . Even Millcreek ’ s Superintendent of Schools , William Hall , wrote Conner a personal letter encouraging him and sharing his own experience battling cancer .
“ No matter where football and life take me , Millcreek will always be home . It ’ s where I grew up with my older brothers , it ’ s where I first learned to play football . In fact , my mom still has the # 34 Walnut Creek jersey I wore in seventh and eighth grade ,” says Conner .
He travels back to the area whenever he can , visiting family and friends , and says the teachers and coaches he encountered while growing up here helped a lot along the way and enabled him to play football at Pitt .
Conner is paying forward the love and support he received during his six-month fight whenever he gets the chance .
This summer Cathedral Prep wrestler Ian Malesiewski was injured during a match . Conner took time to visit him and posted a picture of the two on Instagram with the message , “ I thought I was a beast until I met you , bro . You ’ ve inspired me so much and everyone else !”
Conner has been working hard to be ready for this year ’ s season at Pitt and the highly anticipated season opener against Villanova on September 3 . But it ’ s the second game of the season , against Penn State on September 10 , that really has fans ready for Conner ’ s comeback and hoping to see # connerstrong . n
Millcreek | Fall 2016 | icmags . com 31