PITTSBURGH -- James Conner doesnt care where he plays, how he plays or how much he plays, he just wants to play football.That was the driving force behind the Pitt redshirt junior running backs six-month recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma, and toward that end, he joined his teammates Monday in the Panthers first day of training camp.Conner was diagnosed in November but continued training and working out during his chemotherapy, even participating in spring practices with a surgical mask to protect his weakened immune system. In May, was declared cancer free by his medical team.Throughout, the goal was to get back on the football field.Being out there with my teammates who competed all summer with me and who stuck by my side through my whole journey, its just awesome to be back, Conner said after completing his first practice.Even before his diagnosis, Conners 2015 had taken a frustrating turn. He tore his medial collateral ligament in Pitts season opener against Youngstown State and wasnt able to return.That means Conner has a decent amount of rust to shake off to return to the form that made him the ACC Player of the Year in 2014, when he rushed for 1,765 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Physically, he has no limitations, but to get his timing back, its all about getting reps in camp.Just getting the feel, he said. You have to be in shape, just getting the feel and getting back into the rhythm of things. Thatll come with reps in practice. Every day, I work on every part of my game. Its just taking reps, getting back into my rhythm. It wont take long.Its the mental part of the game that you need, agreed coach Pat Narduzzi. Its not just running the ball. Some people might think that playing running back is easy -- you just carry the ball and find a whole. But theres a lot more to it than that.In Conners absence, Qadree Ollison turned in a 1,121-yard season that earned him ACC Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Theyll be joined by senior Rachid Ibrahim, sophomore Darren Hall and freshman Chawntez Moss in what could be a crowded backfield.Theyve proven that they can carry the load, Conner said of his backfield mates. Im just helping out now, theyve established and proved to themselves that they can compete in the ACC. Without me, they had something great going. Im just trying to add to it.The plethora of running talent has led to new offensive coordinator Matt Canada tinkering with some multi-back sets and with Conner lining up at wide receiver from time to time this season. Conner did some pass-catching drills on the first day in addition to working out with the first team at running back.There are times where youll see two or three tailbacks out there -- maybe four, who knows, Narduzzi said. Well find out here in the end. We have really good competition there from James to the young guys.Wherever he ends up and whatever his role will be, Conner feels forever changed by his experience.Its bigger than the game of football, he said. Its bigger than myself. The impact that Ive had on others, I dont take that for granted any more. Im just thankful to God. You wont hear me complain, my teammates wont ever hear me complain again and they wont be complaining, either. Anything is better than receiving chemotherapy. Id rather be out here playing football.With one milestone checked off, Conner can turn his thoughts to the season opener Sept. 3 vs. Villanova, and his ultimate goal of leading the Panthers back out of the tunnel at Heinz Field. New England Patriots Jerseys . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. Drew Bledsoe Jersey . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. http://www.shoptheofficialpatriots.com/Elite-Kevin-Faulk-Patriots-Jersey/ . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. Julian Edelman Patriots Jersey . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Sony Michel Youth Jersey . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Strong. Capable. Enough.Those words, written on Rachael Adams water bottle, serve as a reminder. Along with the words below: Dont Dare Tell Yourself Differently.Its her affirmation, a message she heeds each day, and one she would like to share with girls and women everywhere.Just last summer, Adams wasnt sure she would be playing volleyball at the Rio Olympics. On Saturday, she will play for a bronze medal.With star player Foluke Akinradewo injured early, the top-ranked Americans (7-1) rallied from a 2-1 deficit before falling in five sets to Serbia on Thursday -- 20-25, 25-17, 25-21, 16-25, 15-13.Not chosen as one of the four American middle blockers for the World Cup in Japan, Adams knew she was out of the Olympic mix at that moment. Yet she also realized she had a supportive coach in Karch Kiraly, who would not give up on her, provided she committed to being a more consistent player.It hurt a lot, but deep down there was a trust and a belief, Adams said Wednesday. I didnt know where that would take me, but I knew that I had to embrace my journey. Everybody when times are tough is like, `I dont want to go through this, but I was like, `OK, What do I need to be learning, why am I going through this, what are the lessons I need to take? Last summer was very difficult. Everything shaped me for this moment and for this goal.Adams had eye surgery. She wasnt quite herself. Doubts crept in.Its not like I didnt believe in myself. But our thoughts become a reality, said Adams, who has embraced the mental side of sports and the expertise of high-performance psychologist Michael Gervais.Now, she has worked her way back so brilliantly Kiraly calls her the most-improved player in the U.S. program this year and named her an Olympic starter. Adams came through Thursday against Serbia, the very team that beat the Americans at the World Cup last year. That meant the U.S. had to earn its berth from a January qualifier in Lincoln, Nebraska.She made three leaping blocks in the middle during the decisive fifth set and a kill for a 12-10 lead, but sshe also had a costly serve into the net down the stretch.dddddddddddd Adams scurried some 15 feet behind the baseline to save a ball in the must-win fourth that led to a kill by Jordan Larson.Over the past two years, Adams would be selected to travel for some tournaments and not others. Away in Italy with her club team last summer when her American teammates were elsewhere, Adams pledged to make progress. Her professional coach also challenged her to chase her Olympic ambitions.I set out to improve, she said. I had to think things through, `You want to go there, but you have to grow here.The 26-year-old Adams does much behind the scenes, too. Just this past spring, she launched her Proceed With Courage T-shirts featuring the hashtag journeystrength. The motto is To remind girls stay with it.Just the way Adams was determined. Kiraly noticed. Everybody did.Rachaels had a tremendous 2016, her coach said. They all have a special story and all of them have adversity that lots of people dont know about. Rachael is an example of that, fighting through some ups and downs and some real challenges to become part of this. Theres no player in our program more improved than Rachael in this 2016 season. Thats been phenomenal for her. Shes worked herself into a starting role.Adams, who figures she goes through more athletic tape for her fingers than anybody on the team, earned a spot on the 12-player roster from a deep pool of talented middle blockers.Her teammates are thrilled to have her.Shes steady. We trust her, libero Kayla Banwarth said. Theres no s she celebrates each step toward the goal of the Americans first gold in womens volleyball, Adams takes pride