Contacts: Brian Clark(901) 843-3020John Kerr [email protected](901) 843-3873
September 12, 2000
Famed Rockne Name Calling Signals for Rhodes College
(Memphis, Tenn.)----The Rhodes College football team is off to a 2-0 start in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC/NCAA Div. III) play this fall. Starting at quarterback is a young and poised freshman from Benton, Ky. His name is Gary Rockne, and he is the great-grandson of legendary Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne.
Surrounded by a host of returning players on a team that has already shown strong defense this season, Rockne is getting into the swing of things. He completed 15 of 25 passes for 168 yards in his second game, a road win at Maryville College last week, 26-21. Rhodes finished the game with 407 yards on offense.
Gary Rockne graduated from Marshall County High School in Benton, Ky., in 1999, and attended Worcester Academy, a prep school in Worcester, Mass., during the 1999-2000 school year. He led Worcester to a 7-1 record.
At Marshall County, Rockne led his team to an 11-2 record and into the Class 4-A regional finals during his senior year. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for four touchdowns in a 42-41 triple overtime district championship win over Henderson County that year. Rockne earned academic all-state honors, was honorable mention all-state, team captain and MVP, all-Western Kentucky and played in Kentucky's East-West all-star game his senior year.
Rockne's father, John Rockne of Clearwater, Fla., a former football coach at Murray State University, says his son doesn't dwell on his famous name. "He sloughs it off. He is pumped about going to Rhodes." Young Rockne said that he has learned more about his famous great-grandfather, who died in a plane crash in 1931, through TV documentaries.
Rhodes football coach Joe White says an athlete named Rockne playing for him is a "non-factor," but he can appreciate the Notre Dame connection. White named his eldest son Joseph Ara for former Notre Dame coach Ara Parseghian. Rockne caught White's eye because of his quick release passing the football. "He has good arm strength," said White.
Rockne said that his collegiate goals are to "get a degree, try to be the best person I can be on and off the field and have a good time when I'm in college."
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*Media interviews are coordinated through the office of communications and/or the sports information office. For more information, call Brian Clark at (901) 843-3020 or John Kerr at (901) 843-3873.
Rhodes College Football Schedule (remaining games)Sept. 16 Centre College 1:30 p.m.Sept. 30 Washington Univ. 1:30 p.m.Oct. 7 @Rose Hulman 2 p.m.Oct. 14 @ Sewannee 1:30 p.m.Oct. 21 Colorado College 2 p.m.Oct. 28 @Trinity 2:30 p.m.Nov. 4 Millsaps 1:30 p.m.
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