Despite chemotherapy, Pitt's Conner joins teammates for workouts
James Conner just wants to be one of the guys, but in his situation, that won't be easy.
Conner has completed six of his 12 scheduled chemotherapy treatments in his fight against Hodgkin's lymphoma, but that hasn't stopped him from joining his Pitt teammates in their regular winter workouts and weightlifting.
“He's really what's driving us right now,” running back Qadree Ollison said.
Conner was on the field Friday morning in the sixth of coach Pat Narduzzi's mandatory Fourth Quarter sessions that start at 6:45 and continue for two hours.
Conner wore a mask to cover his mouth and nose because the chemo can compromise his immune system and make him more susceptible to infection. He also stays off the ground to avoid germs.
But he takes part in most of the drills, running from station to station while testing his surgically repaired right knee that was injured in the first game last season.
“He always tells us,” Ollison said, “ ‘Don't worry about (me). (I'll) be fine.' ”
“He can do everything except being near the dirt,” Narduzzi said.
That could change if Conner recovers well enough to participate in actual practice. Conner was unavailable for comment Friday, but Narduzzi said he expects to have the 2014 ACC Player of the Year available this season.
“I believe he will (play),” he said. “I'm pretty confident that he will beat it.”
Narduzzi said Dr. Stanley M. Marks, deputy director of clinical services for UPMC CancerCenter/University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, also remains hopeful.
“He said a lot of people get chemo and they go home and lay on the couch for a week,” Narduzzi said. “This guy sweats it out the next day. He changes the way you get chemo.”
Narduzzi sat with Conner and his family through a 3 1⁄2-hour chemo session Feb. 15. During that time, Narduzzi spent time with and offered encouragement to three other cancer patients who were receiving treatments in the same room.
Mike Gallagher, a Conner family friend, said each patient had the same message for Narduzzi.
“They said, ‘Coach, don't leave us,' ” Gallagher said. “Here they are fighting for their lives, and they are thinking about Pitt football.”
Gallagher, who lives in Erie, has offered his own support. He put up his Christmas tree when Conner was diagnosed Thanksgiving Day and has vowed not to take it down until the cancer is gone.
Pitt strength and conditioning coach Dave Andrews said Conner is an inspiration to more than the Pitt team.
“We use him as a model at home with my young kids,” Andrews said. “He's a special kid. What we are going to see as he goes ahead and defeats this ... you will see that carry over to next season and him be our spiritual leader.”
Quarterback Nathan Peterman said Conner's presence pushes him during drills.
“He's in my ear, motivating me,” he said. “It's pretty amazing to witness.”
Peterman and 11 teammates will participate Saturday in the 16th annual Race to Anyplace to honor Conner and benefit the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Participants will race indoors at Heinz Field on stationary bikes for six consecutive hours to raise money and awareness.
Peterman and Ollison are part of Pitt's #ConnerStrong team that includes Matt Galambos, Jaryd Jones-Smith, George Aston, Rafael Araujo-Lopes, Pat Quirin, Tony Pilato, Kellen McAlone, Manny Stocker, Tristan Cunha and Nick Goldsmith.
Jerry DiPaola is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at jdipaola@tribweb.com or via Twitter @JDiPaola_Trib.
