Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski Frank Rocco (left) talks with his son Dan (center) and grandson Dave at Holuba Hall indoor practice facility at University Park.

Ohio at PSU

Saturday: Noon

Records: Both teams are 1-0

TV: ABC

Radio: TOONA 1430-AM; 99.7-FM

The latest line: PSU by 24.5

By Neil Rudel

nrudel@altoonamirror.com

UNIVERSITY PARK — The 2022 Penn State football season is a homecoming for the Rocco family.

Danny Rocco is in his first season on the Nittany Lions’ staff, serving as a defensive analyst, a relatively new trend in college football that has allowed for additional coaching opportunities.

After Rocco was let go as head coach at Delaware in December, despite being 31-23, he landed at Penn State, where he has deep roots.

Rocco spent two years as a Nittany Lion defensive back in the late 1970s before transferring to Wake Forest, and his father, Frank, served almost 20 years as an administrator in the football program, working closely with Joe Paterno and Tim Curley.

Further, Danny’s son, David — Frank’s grandson — was hired as an offensive analyst on the PSU staff after six years as quarterback coach and offensive coordinator at Western Illinois.

Frank Rocco and his wife, Ann, still live in State College. In fact, Danny is residing with him while figuring out what the future may hold.

He and his wife, Julie, have a home outside Philadelphia and will “make a more definitive decision at the end of the season.”

In the meantime, after a 39-year coaching odyssey that has included head-coaching posts at Liberty, Richmond and Delaware, he’s catching up with his parents.

“It’s a blessing for me to be around my dad and my mom,” Danny, 62, said. “There were a lot of things that made this feel really good, and I’m really appreciative Coach Franklin was willing and interested. I’m really enjoying it.”

Three of Danny’s siblings — Frank, a former Lion quarterback, David and Amy — also attended Penn State.

“My family has a lot of history here,” Danny said. “There are so many connections that are still here in State College – from previous staff members and previous administration and support staff that are deeply connected with my dad and my family.”

Frank Rocco Sr., Altoona Area High School’s head coach from 1979-82, retired from PSU in 2000 and became football operations director at Liberty, where his son, Frank Jr., was coaching.

Frank, now 84, endured a heart attack in 2002 and returned to State College in 2007.

He became active in the Penn State Quarterback Club and the Central PA Chapter of the National Football Foundation and got to know Franklin, who arrived in 2014.

“It’s really remarkable that this came about,” Frank said. “I know Danny and Coach Franklin used to hook up at the national conventions, and when Danny lost his job (at Delaware), he was just looking around. When I started hearing about the analyst (job), I thought, ‘Danny has a lot to offer,’ and, unbeknownst to me, it came about.”

Coaching allows them to be at least temporarily under the same roof, but there isn’t much down time.

“He’s busy,” Frank said. “We don’t see him until after 10 o’clock.”

As for his grandson David, who coached with Lion tight ends coach Ty Howle at Western Illinois, Frank said in an understanding, humorous tone, “I never see him. He and his wife moved here. We see his wife. I think I’ve seen him one time.”

David is in the press box, working alongside another known offensive analyst, Ken Whisenhunt, who led the Arizona Cardinals to the 2008 Super Bowl after being the offensive coordinator for the Steelers during their Super Bowl victory in 2006.

“Dave is a really bright football mind,” Howle said. “When I was with him, I said, ‘This guy is really good, and I’d like to continue to coach with him.’ He’s been a great addition for our staff.”

Danny is on the field.

“It’s a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity to be back here with mom and dad and now my son,” Danny said. “Just an amazing reality. I’m very humbled and appreciative of Coach Franklin.”

Franklin called the Rocco reunion “really cool.”

“Obviously, they have a long history with Penn State football,” he said. “We’ve been able to connect from a historical perspective with some of the staff that we’ve been able to bring back, whether it’s the Roccos, (Dan) Connor, (Alan) Zemaitis, Terry Smith. It’s been important to help bridge that gap. (This is) a place with unbelievable tradition and history.”

“The biggest thing I recognized is Coach Franklin really does care about Penn State, the lettermen, and he really does value the tradition and respects the tradition,” Rocco said. “Those who came here before are always welcome to come back.”

Entering today’s game with Ohio (noon, ABC), Rocco feels the Lions’ defense has plenty to build on after stopping the Boilers’ last four possessions.

“We had a lot of guys see meaningful action,” Danny said. “We built a lot of depth, and the fourth quarter was really impressive.”

Rocco’s new role has energized him in that he’s not the final decision maker on everything.

“I am enjoying things I probably haven’t enjoyed in a long time,” he said. “As a head coach, every moment of the game is in the balance. You don’t celebrate a touchdown because there are so many different decisions. You’re constantly working and not necessarily enjoying the moment. (Now) I’ve found myself in a number of moments – even on the practice field – just enjoying taking it all in and having a different perspective on things. And I enjoy coming to work. It’s a different feel and a different temperature. For the first time in 16 years, I’ve been focusing on things I haven’t had to, and it’s kind of refreshing.”

On Franklin, Rocco said: “He’s open to hearing. It doesn’t have to be his idea. It just has to be the right idea.”

After eight stops as an assistant — seven in college and one season with the New York Jets — Rocco became Liberty’s head coach in 2006 followed by five-year stints at Richmond and Delaware.

“I was most proud that we took over three different programs and when we took them over, they were all coming off 1-10 the year before,” he said. “And at all three places, we won conference championships.”

He was disappointed, of course, that Delaware changed directions after a 5-6 season, only the second losing season in his 16 years as a head coach.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt in my mind I would welcome that opportunity (to be a head coach again),” Rocco, whose career record was 121-65, said. “I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I feel the energy and passion to do that one more time.”

Rudel can be reached at 814-946-7527 or nrudel@altoonamirror.com.