Encouraging words, divine inspiration
By: will-vandervort February 15, 2016

On the football field, James Conner rushed for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns, good enough to earn him ACC Player of the Year honors as a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh.

Conner was on top of the world. The college football world was actually his to take as he entered the 2015 season, but before it could even get started, Conner’s season was over. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound running back tore his ACL in Pitt’s season-opener against Youngstown State and he was out for the year.

That’s the kind of news that is devastating for any young athlete to hear, but in the grand scheme of things this was the softest blow to Conner’s academic year. On December 4, 2015, Conner announced he was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that starts in white blood cells called lymphocytes, which is part of the body’s immune system. A week later he began his chemotherapy regimen that is expected to last well into June.

It was hard news for the 20-year old to swallow, but Conner isn’t backing down.

“When I heard I got cancer, I was a little scared,” Conner said in an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Dec. 5. “But fear is a choice. I chose not to fear cancer. We’re going to fight, and we’re going to beat this thing.”

Today marks the halfway point in Conner’s battle, and so far he is doing well. The Erie, Penn., native has received support from many people across the country, people who have survived cancer themselves, including one guy who understands what he is going through all too well.

Clemson pitcher Clate Schmidt, who is in line to start this Friday’s season-opener against Maine, is a walking inspiration to Conner. Schmidt was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma back in late May of 2015.

Schmidt is a walking inspiration to us all. He has proven, just because you have been diagnosed with cancer does not mean you have to give up. After an intense three-month fight, which included chemo and radiation treatment, Schmidt’s cancer has gone into remission. He was back on the baseball field by the end of August conditioning with his Clemson teammates. By January he was almost 100 percent, and now with the season beginning this Friday against Maine the Clemson pitcher will be on the mound throwing the baseball once again.

Conner, who has already began conditioning drills with his Pitt teammates, tweeted this on Sunday night to mark the halfway point of his battle.

https://twitter.com/JamesConner_/status/699066703284740097

It did not take too long for Conner’s new friend to send him some more encouragement.

And Conner of course replied.

https://twitter.com/JamesConner_/status/699075227385536512

It is great when a person does not have to fight cancer alone, but it is even better when they can fight it with someone who, like them, has walked down the same road they are currently walking down.

Clate Schmidt and James Conner live nearly 600 miles away from each other, and play on two different ball fields. Yet these two have more in common with each other than anyone can imagine. One has survived cancer the other is halfway home in his fight. Together they make one heck of a team for anyone who needs encouragement that anything is possible as long as you are willing to fight for it.

If you haven’t already order your copy today of Guts & Glory – Tales of Clemson’s Historic 2015 Football Season to help you celebrate and remember this special season.

TCICover300