Glenn Spencer Praises Pitt Cancer-Surviving RB James Conner

OSU survived Pitt on Saturday, but that’s nothing compared to what Pitt running back James Conner has survived over the last year. Our guy Thomas Fleming wrote terrifically about Conner and his Hodgkins Lymphoma, and you should read his story if you haven’t.

Conner rolled up 111 yards on 24 carries and one very questionable TD.

I mean that’s just not a TD. pic.twitter.com/PRo0gGgOqs

— Pistols Firing (@pistolsguys) September 17, 2016

He was impressive no matter how you look at it. Or at least I thought so. OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer did as well.

“How about that running back of theirs?” Spencer said to the Oklahoman. “Gosh. I saw him after the game and I hugged his neck and said, ‘Buddy, I respect you.’ When a young man finds a purpose for playing this game, beyond the screams of the crowds or the screams of coaches, he’s dangerous. And that’s what that kid is.”

I want Glenn Spencer to talk about me like that!

Conner said he was bummed about the game but already moving on after Pitt’s first loss of the 2016 season.

“It’s just tough,” said Conner. “We don’t like losing. We’re on to the next one. It was a hard physical run late in the game. I felt we did have momentum though. I felt good coming out of the delay. We just tried to stretch, take our pads off and stay off our feet.

“They’re a great team, and we have to correct some things on offense. But hats off to them they played good on offense. I felt I could have run harder [on touchdown run]. But I’m always hard on myself.”

Respect all the way around. I like Pitt. I like Conner. I love Spencer. And I’m excited to play this game again in 2017.