Lynchburg native and former University of Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco will have to sit out a season before playing at Richmond.

Lynchburg native and former University of Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco will have to sit out a season before playing at Richmond. (Univeristy of Virginia Media Relations / August 8, 2012)

Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco grew up a huge Penn State fan, and with good reason.

His father and uncle played for the late Joe Paterno, and his grandfather coached with Paterno for 19 seasons. Michael Rocco even had an offer to add to the family ties and attend Penn State, but says once he donned Cavaliers' orange and blue, any allegiance to the Nittany Lions disappeared.


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Rocco will lead the Cavaliers (1-0) against visiting Penn State (0-1) on Saturday.

It's the second straight weekend Rocco has had to prepare for an opponent with family ties. Last week, he threw for 311 yards in three quarters in leading the Cavaliers past a Richmond team coached by his uncle, Danny Rocco.