Kurt Rocco Set to Face Former Team
June 15, 2012 - Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release
NEW ORLEANS (June 15, 2012) - On Saturday night the New Orleans VooDoo (5-7) head to Cleveland to take on the Gladiators (6-6) in a game with major playoff implications, and the game will have added meaning for VooDoo quarterback Kurt Rocco, as he's returning home.
Rocco, a Cincinnati, Ohio native, attended Roger Bacon High School, and went on to star at the University of Mount Union (Alliance, OH). After his senior year, he signed with the Cleveland Gladiators for the 2011 season.
Rocco entered the season as the backup to veteran quarterback John Dutton, a two-time ArenaBowl champion and one-time ArenaBowl MVP. Things changed quickly for Rocco however, as Dutton tore his left Achilles' tendon in the season opener at Spokane. From that moment on, Rocco was thrust into the starting role.
In his rookie year, he led the Gladiators to the playoffs, compiled a 9-8 record, completed over 64% of his passes, and threw for 72 touchdowns. Entering 2012, Rocco wanted an opportunity to start, and he knew that if he went back to Cleveland, he'd more than likely return to his backup role behind Dutton.
"Cleveland wanted me back, I talked to Coach Thonn, and he was straightforward with me; he told me that if I did come back they'd probably lean towards John Dutton as their starting quarterback, which is understandable" said Rocco. "So I was honest with him, I said I was going to weigh my options, see what calls I got, and see if I could get an opportunity to start."
Shortly thereafter, VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara called Rocco and told him that he would love to work with him in New Orleans and that he'd receive an opportunity to win a starting spot in training camp. The rest is history.
Rocco acknowledged that the game against the Gladiators will be different for him, but not because of the opponent. "(It's different) in a slight way because I'm going back to Ohio, and I get to see my family and my friends. I don't think about 'oh it's payback to and try to beat Cleveland because I left' or something, I'm not looking at it from that point of view. I'm just excited to go back to Ohio, to have my friends and family watch me play, and get to play in the arena that I started out in."
When asked about how he's grown and matured since his 2011 rookie campaign in Cleveland, Rocco wasn't shy; "Last year I was a young guy, I was quiet, I was in a new system, and I wasn't originally going to be the starter in the first place" Rocco said. "This year my confidence has grown a lot, I'm starting to be more vocal, to take on more of a leadership role on the field and off the field".
Rocco credited veterans and team leaders Josh Bush and Alvin Ray Jackson with allowing him that privilege to be more of a vocal leader. While he brushed off any talk of statistics, other than wins and losses, Rocco has already surpassed his 2011 touchdown total (72) with 74 this year, and still has 6 games remaining.
The VooDoo and Gladiators play Saturday night at The "Q" with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Arena Football League Stories from June 15, 2012
- Storm Dissipates in Jungle, Preds Win 64-40 - Tampa Bay Storm
- Predators Defeat Tampa Bay Storm, 64-40 - Orlando Predators
- SaberCats Travel to Kansas City to Take on Command - San Jose SaberCats
- Philadelphia Circling Home Field Advantage - Philadelphia Soul
- Moye-Moore Named Week 15 National Guard Community MVP - AFL
- Kurt Rocco Set to Face Former Team - New Orleans VooDoo
- KC Command vs. SaberCats Game Preview - Kansas City Command
- Sharks Host Soul in Week 15 Rematch - Jacksonville Sharks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
