Cavalier starting quarterback Michael Rocco will go against his uncle Danny Rocco on Saturday when the 'Hoos host Richmond for the season opener. Danny Rocco is the head coach at Richmond. It makes for an intriguing side story for Saturday's showdown.
Michael Rocco won a 3-way battle in training camp keeping his starting quarterback job. Down the road at Richmond, Danny Rocco is beginning his first season as the head coach of the Spiders. As fate would have it the two square off in the season opener.
Danny Rocco says, "It'll be business as usual I feel all the way up to the end of the game. A lot of times as we prepare for our opponents what we do is prepare for what we see on film. I'm studying #16 on film just like I would any other quarterback."
Michael Rocco says, "He's my uncle and we're able to talk about a lot of things but at the end of the day the goal this weekend is to win the football game so giving him clues is not what I'm trying to do and he's not trying to pry anything out of me."
The Cavalier quarterback says he'll have a lot of family members in attendance on Saturday including his uncle Dave Rocco, who's the head coach at the Covenant school in Charlottesville.
Dave Rocco says, "Its going to be very interesting, I hope its 54-53 UVa. Either way I just want it to be a good game but I want Michael to do well."
Obviously it will be a proud moment for my parents my mom and dad are coming down from State College, Pennsylvania and our entire family will have a lot invested in the game and the outcome of the game.
Danny Rocco and Mike London also go way back. Both were assistant coaches at Virginia under Al Groh and in fact, Danny Rocco encouraged London to recruit his nephew to Virginia.
Danny says, "I look forward to seeing Michael before the game and shaking his hand, and I look forward to embracing him after the game. I'm real proud of what he's accomplished up there at the University of Virginia."
Michael says, "Its going to be fun and its going to be competitive, it always is in the Rocco family and that's what it will be this weekend so we're excited."
Virginia and Richmond kickoff at 3pm Saturday at Scott Stadium.
