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Connor Lair hopes to return to the football field after beating cancer

As Connor Lair sat on the team bus on the way to an away game, he received a phone call that changed his life forever.

Lair, a former West Plains star and running back for the Missouri State football team, was told he had cancer.

The scary thoughts that come with cancer swirled through his mind during the six-hour bus ride, but he never let the idea of ​​playing in the soccer game the next day stop him. It might be his last chance to play the game he loves as Lair took the field the following night.

“My escape was football and sports,” Lair said. “If I was going out, I wanted to go out like this.”

Diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, it was the last game Lair played in while wearing a Bears uniform. He spent the later months undergoing six rounds of chemotherapy in addition to 17 days of radiation, fighting for a chance to return to a normal life and retake the field.

Seven months later, Lair is cancer-free and well on his way to making a comeback to the soccer field this season. Only it won't be at Missouri State when he begins his next challenge – life in the transfer portal.

“It was a tough but good conversation with Coach (Ryan) Beard,” Lair said. “I expressed that I wanted a fresh start and he completely understood that.”

More: How Cuonzo Martin convinced Vincent Brady II of Missouri State basketball's championship future

Lair enters the transfer portal with the intention of starting the next chapter in his life. After growing up in the Ozarks, Lair wants something new and the opportunity to grow. Every day he wakes up, he feels a new appreciation and longs for the chance to explore more of what life has to offer.

What kept Connor Lair strong during his battle with cancer

During his battle with cancer, there were times when he didn't believe he would get this chance.

After starting cancer treatment, Lair saw his body wasting away. Those who watched him suit up for the Zizzers or saw his presence at Plaster Stadium saw an explosive athlete with a motor that not many could match. He's the type of player who comes off the edge, strips the quarterback, jumps up and retrieves the ball to return it for a touchdown.

But his body was suddenly in survival mode. Sometimes he had to stay in the hospital for days because he couldn't control his vomiting or his temperature dropped too low. There were times when he felt death was “nearer than far away.”

When he was alone late at night, his thoughts sometimes overwhelmed him, but he overcame them by leaning on his faith and the motivation he received from being close to the younger children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis .

More: How Cuonzo Martin will go about getting Missouri State basketball back to where it needs to be

“It just gives you a different perspective,” Lair said. “It gives you a little more purpose and definitely helps you find your 'why' when you see kids going through even more difficult situations than you. It's just an inspiration in itself.”

Lair, the big, strong college football player at Children's Hospital, instead took inspiration from those fighting their battles around him. He didn't leave his room often, but he remembered walking the halls late one night and befriending a younger kid named Maverick who was battling brain cancer. The two played basketball and learned about each other's travels.

Maverick and others gave Lair a new perspective on life. He was always considered one of the toughest players on any football field he stepped on, but this experience gave toughness a new definition. Inspired by those around him, Lair remained strong and determined to be better.

“When you don’t have a chance, sometimes people want to run,” Lair said. “They're pulling their tails a little bit. I have a good support system and group that helped me stay on the good path, keep a strong mindset and know that if there was a percentage… I had no choice but to try. “and shoot it.”

How Missouri State football rallied around Connor Lair

Lair's support system wasn't just his family, friends and those he developed relationships with in the hospital. Southwest Missouri and the Missouri State football team showed their support for Lair throughout his battle with cancer.

A T-shirt campaign alone raised nearly $6,000 for Lair, crushing the original goal of $500. Donations were also collected through Great Southern Bank and FNBC Bank locations in West Plains. Additional fundraisers were held where the football program preached “#40Strong” in recognition of Lair’s jersey number.

“We fully support him and will be doing something in some capacity over the next few weeks to support him as a community and try to rally support around him,” Bears head coach Ryan Beard said in September. “He is constantly in our thoughts and prayers. If anyone can do it, it’s him.”

“With Coach Beard, I couldn’t have asked for a better support system or a better man to guide me,” Lair said.

More: Cuonzo Martin contract details at Missouri State: Salary, buyout, incentives

Connor Lair is entering the transfer portal after two years at Missouri State

In an attempt to hasten his return to the field, Lair pushed himself further than he should. Because of the PICC line in his arm, he wasn't supposed to lift more than 10 pounds, but he pushed himself too far. After breaking four, he decided that maybe he should relax a bit.

When the PICC line was removed, he was back at it. He began lifting weights and running again to get back in shape. He did not participate in Missouri State's spring training but is nearing his return date.

“I have a pretty good personal trainer in West Plains and we do cardio in the morning and weight lifting in the evening,” Lair said. “It played a big part in getting back into shape. I’m back to where I was, if not better than I was.”

Lair entered the transfer portal with the support of Missouri State and its coaching staff. Beard, the Bears' head coach, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, following Lair's transfer portal announcement, encouraging him and saying he was grateful to be part of his journey.

More: Missouri State women's basketball begins rebuilding roster with familiar names

Lair's next journey begins with him searching for a new culture that suits him. He wants a football program with high expectations for himself and his future teammates. He wants coaches to demand a high work ethic and a commitment to doing the right thing. He wants like-minded people to guide him into the next chapter of his life.

Although it was scary at times, Lair persevered. The toughness he was always known for on the football field didn't let him give up.

Lair will take the field again sometime soon.

“It was just so inspiring to see how many people were actually affected, not by the same thing, but by cancer itself, it was crazy,” Lair said. “You never realize how many people have been through this until you understand it or are around it. Just the support, advice and support I got was huge. I couldn’t have imagined anything better.”

Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist for the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, email at [email protected] or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.

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