The University of Pittsburgh has James Conner’s back.
Less than a week after Conner – Pitt’s star running back – went public with his recent cancer diagnosis, he has already begun treatment at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).
Getting through grueling chemotherapy sessions is enough to worry about, so the school’s athletic department has pledged to take care of any extraneous costs that come with Conner’s treatment that are not covered by his family’s insurance.
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the school will fund the expenses “partly through the department’s athlete insurance policy with UPMC and the rest from their general fund.”
From the Post-Gazette:
The arrangement is possible under a set of NCAA guidelines established within the past decade, in the midst of widespread calls for the NCAA to improve the quality of life of college athletes.
The NCAA requires all college athletes carry personal insurance, and Conner’s family plan will be the first line of coverage. After that, any other medical costs will be covered by Conner’s student-athlete insurance policy at Pitt, according to executive associate athletic director for compliance Dan Bartholomae.
The NCAA allows schools to cover all medical expenses, and Pitt takes out a policy with UPMC for all of its athletes, primarily intended to cover athletically related medical expenses. Conner’s treatments will be covered by that policy because his condition impacts his ability to play football at Pitt.
Bartholomae told the Post-Gazette that the school receives “about $350,000 a year” from the ACC for the NCAA’s student-athlete assistance fund, which covers various expenditures away from athletics.
Using that fund, the school will cover any other costs to lessen the burden on Conner’s family – like a hotel room for Conner’s mother, for example.
“It’s a pretty liberal fund,” Bartholomae said. “As long as I’m never using it to pay for a kid’s scholarship, to pay for a kid’s personal trainer or to pay for a locker-room renovation.
“We have people’s grandmothers who pass away and we put them on a plane and get them home the next possible second. That can be a $1,500 ticket sometimes.”
The school announced Conner’s diagnosis – Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a treatable form of cancer – last Friday. Conner only played in one game this season after suffering a knee injury, but was the ACC Player of the Year in 2014. He totaled 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns in that season.
"When I heard those words – `You have cancer' – I admit I was scared," Conner said in a team release. "But after thinking about it for a bit, I realized that fear is a choice. I choose to not fear cancer. I choose to fight it and I will win.
"One year ago today I was asking myself, `Why me?' Why was I the lucky one to be getting the ACC Player of the Year award when I had so many teammates who deserved it as much as me? Now one year later, instead of asking, `Why me?' I am saying, `Why not me?' I can beat cancer.
"I know there are so many people in the world who were told by their doctors this week that they also have cancer. I want them to know that together we can – and will – beat cancer.
"I will play football again. I will be at Heinz Field again. I have the best coaches and teammates in the country. I thank God I chose Pitt because now I also have the best doctors in the country and together we will win. I know this city has my back."
Conner's treatment is expected to span the next six months.
For more Pittsburgh news, visit Panther-lair.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
