ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609190095
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N12 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DALEVILLE
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
Early last season, Jeremy Conner couldn't understand why he wasn't able to play defense on the Lord Botetourt football team.
Conner was coming off a season when he could have been a Sizzlin' Sophomore on either defense or offense. Because he was one of Timesland's leading receivers with 23 catches for 314 yards, Conner was chosen for the offense.
As a junior, he started having problems in contact drills. ``I was getting headaches. I told my mother. She was concerned. She didn't think it was worth being injured for the rest of my life because of football,'' said Conner.
Jenna Conner, who is the customer service manager for The Roanoke Times, did what any parent would do and hauled her offspring to the doctor.
Jeremy Conner underwent X-rays and an MRI that showed nothing was wrong. He went to a doctor who specializes in sports injuries and was told to wear a double-air helmet. Another doctor would clear him to play only offense and not defense. That's what created the problem.
``He's always liked defense better,'' said Jenna Conner. ``In his little league days, he didn't want to be taken out. He wanted to play, play, play.
``It was rough around the house last fall. Jeremy was begging the coaches to put him in defensively. He was happy he could play offense, but he moped around and didn't understand why it wasn't his decision. It was his body and his game.''
Lord Botetourt coach Andy Ward would have loved to have had Conner on defense. He had to move an inexperienced player to that position, and the Cavaliers were unable to blitz.
Ward also realized the frustration Conner was going through. ``He didn't feel he was a solid contributor to the team. Jeremy felt he had to play both ways to contribute. He wanted all or nothing. Later he realized that his contribution to the team had to be offense and if he quit, he wouldn't be contributing at all.''
Wesley Cox, who is one of Timesland's outstanding runners and was a Sizzlin' Sophomore on offense along with Conner, moved to safety after the injury. ``But he's a leader on defense and he always helped the defensive backs. I had to play his position and he's quicker than I am,'' said Cox.
``Jeremy never talked about it [not playing defense]. But I could tell he didn't like it.''
Conner says he likes defense better because of the contact, which is precisely what everyone was hoping he would avoid last year.
``I talked the coaches into putting me in defensively one play,'' says Conner, who was perpetually asking to go in on the sidelines.
Actually, he was in on one play just before the half when the Cavaliers were in a prevent defense and he wasn't likely to make a tackle. Conner intercepted a pass, giving him a perfect season in his only defensive appearance.
``My mother was scared when I went in, but when it was over, I waved at her to let her know everything was OK,'' said Conner.
Now it's even better. As a senior, he's been cleared to play defense again as well as offense. In the Cavaliers' first game, Conner had three receptions and was in on several tackles. In the second game, he caught three more passes, including one for a touchdown.
``I'm glad he's getting to play defense. It's his last year and he would have been a miserable kid,'' said Jenna Conner. ``The headaches did put a scare into us, but after all, he's the one who mentioned them. We have to trust that he'll tell us [if they come again]. We told him he has to be serious and let us know if the pain returns.''
Jenna and husband, Roy Conner, will get no argument. ``I'd have to tell the truth. But I haven't had any headaches. I'd tell my mother. I couldn't lie,'' said Jeremy Conner.
``Last week [playing both ways] felt great. I got myself up all the way through practice [for playing defense again].''
It's also a happy season in another way for young Conner. After having a great sophomore season as a wide receiver, the Cavaliers' passing offense didn't click last year because Seth Myers, who has played football with Conner since the two were in second grade, was a new quarterback. Now he's an old hand and if the first two games are an indication, Conner has a chance to better his sophomore year on offense.
``It's good to have Jeremy out there because he's one receiver I know who can always catch the ball,'' said Myers. ``He always runs the right routes.''
Cox likes it because now teams might not stack their defenses to stop him. ``I know when our passing was working two years ago, it took a lot of pressure off me. Last year, most of the teams knew I was going to get the ball,'' said the Cavalier running back.
Conner admits his parents were nervous about him playing defense because of his size (5 feet, 8 1/2 inches). He makes no pretense of playing college football, although Division III is still a possiblity. ``Right now,'' said Conner, ``I just want to have as good a year as I had when I was a sophomore.''
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ROGER HART STAFF Jeremy Conner (left), wide receiver,by CNBalso plays defensive back for the Lord Botetourt Cavaliers. Conner
rejoins his teammates, Seth Myers (center), quarterback and safety,
and Wesley Cox, running back and outside linebacker, who are also
both outstanding on offense and defense. color