Pinstripe Bowl Should Be James Conner’s Party

Here are a few words and phrases you can use to describe PITT Running Back James Conner: Hardworking, Courageous, Never Give Up Attitude, The Will To Win and I could go on, but the point is made.

When Conner announced that he would declare for the 2017 NFL Draft after the bowl game on December 28, I went back and thought about where the program was when he arrived in Pittsburgh.  The PITT football program was coming out of the poorly handled Dave Wannstedt firing, the very short Michael Haywood era and the 1 year of every fan’s favorite Head Coach Todd Graham

Under Paul Chryst, Conner entered the program as a 2-star defensive end recruit prior to the 2013 season, but really would never played defensive end. In his first game against Florida State he had 9 carries for 34 yards. Not great, but it was a glimpse into what the future held for PITT.  Throughout the 2013 season he ran for over 100 yards 3 times against New Mexico, Duke and North Carolina.  He also added 2 multi-touchdown performances against New Mexico and Notre Dame.  Conner finished the 2013 season with 146 attempts, 799 yards and 8 touchdowns.

As the page turned to the 2014 season, Conner was now the feature back and he showed why with a 153 yard, 4 touchdown performance against Delaware.  He followed that game up with a 214 yard, touchdown performance in Boston College. During the 2014 season, Conner had three 200+ yard games and four 100+ yard games.  He also had two 4 touchdown games, three 3 touchdown games and three 2 touchdown games. Conner finished the 2014 season with 298 attempts, 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Every PITT fan was excited for the start of the 2015 season because everyone just wanted to see what James Conner would do on the football field next to add to what he was already doing off the field in the community.  In Week 1 against Youngstown State he had 8 carries for 77 yards and 2 touchdowns.  And that was all she wrote for the 2015 season because of a knee injury.  PITT fans were all wondering if that was the last we would see Conner because many were predicting he would declare for the draft the following year and then came the press conference in late November.

When Conner was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, thoughts were not about James Conner the football player, they became about James Conner the person.  The draft talk went away as he said he would stay at PITT for the 2016 season  and it was all about Conner just taking care of himself and getting healthy.  But, you could tell in his eyes that he would get back on the field for the start of the 2016 season because you could tell he wasn’t going to let the diagnosis get in the way of him living his life.

And then we got the press conference with Dr. Marks prior to the 2016 season:

(Both Videos Courtesy of PITT LiveWire)

After James Conner got the clearance to play, the attention turned to the 2016 season and what exactly would he be like on the football field.  Week 1 against Villanova you knew he was going to be a little rusty, but he still finished with 69 combined yards and a rushing and receiving touchdown.  But the next week was Penn State and he looked like the Jame Conner everyone remembered seeing as he finished with 146 combined yards and 2 touchdowns, including the big shovel pass touchdown to for all intensive purposes clinch the game.

(Video Courtesy of ACC Digital Network)

As we prepare for PITT to take on Northwestern in the Pinstripe Bowl in New York City, Conner has 208 attempts, 1,060 yards and 16 touchdowns. He’s also added 20 receptions, 299 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.

James Conner has been one of the keys to the PITT football programs turn around from the Wannstedt firing. He has meant so much to the University on and off the field. The Pinstripe Bowl in New York City should be James Conner’s send off party to the NFL Draft and Panthers Nation should be there in full force to support Conner and the future of the PITT football program which is bright.

There is still time to request tickets with the Panthers Ticket Office and there are even some for sale already on StubHub.  If you are a PITT fan and on the fence about making the trip to New York after the Holiday.  I would hope you make the decision to go because it is going to be worth it to not only see James Conner suit up for the Panthers one more time before going to the NFL, but also see this football program continue to grow under Narduzzi.

It’s time for Panthers Nation to gather together for a 3-Day Party in New York City to celebrate the positive direction of the football program.  And to send-off a great football player and person to the NFL in James Conner.