Sports

Rocco Becht’s Parents Go Scorched Earth On Critics Of Light Penn State Class Schedule

#Penn State Nittany Lions
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iStockphoto / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Rocco Becht is taking one class at Penn State this fall.


Penn State quarterback Rocco Becht will take one online class during the fall semester of his first year with the Nittany Lions. It should allow him to focus on football.

Many have been critical of the light courseload following a transfer from Iowa State. His parents went scorched earth on the naysayers in a series of social media responses.

Becht is entering his fifth season of college football. He followed head coach Matt Campbell to State College where he looks to guide the program back to the playoff.

He has the luxury of easing into his first semester in regard to academics.

Rocco Becht is taking one class at Penn State.

And as of last Thursday, he did not know what that course was going to be.

Becht has entered a graduate program at Penn State. It allows him to be eligible for the Nittany Lions this season. He will then have the opportunity to continue that coursework in the spring, though the possibility of being drafted by an NFL franchise could put that plan on a temporary hold.

The passer is a known commodity. At Iowa State, he threw for more than 9,000 yards and 64 touchdowns. His transfer to Penn State gives the Nittany Lions a proven playmaker under center following a coaching change.

They paid handsomely for his signature. He will receive $1 million to play football this fall. A lax class schedule could allow for top return on investment.

Becht is not the only veteran quarterback with minimal academic responsibilities in his last season. South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers has no class at all. Instead, he’ll spend the fall working at a golf course as the final requirement for his undergraduate studies.

With that said, there Rocco Becht has plenty of critics. One was Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy.

Rocco Becht’s parents go scorched earth.

Taking one online class is far from being a full-time student. My amendment to the Protect College Sports Act would address this. The “student” in student-athlete should still matter so they are set up for success, wherever they go next.

–Bill Cassidy / X

Cassidy quote-tweeted the video of Becht’s courseload update. He believes student-athletes should be required to push themselves in the classroom.

It landed an immediate response from the quarterback’s dad.

Becht’s situation is a bit different than most. He’s already earned his undergraduate degree in communications from Iowa State. He is not breaking any rules. He is adhering to the NCAA’s guidelines as they pertain to graduate studies and eligibility.

Cassidy may have been referencing those standards more so than Becht himself. Still, the passer’s parents saw it as a direct attack.

Rocco Becht will take one class this semester at Penn State. Most others would do the same given the seven-figure salary.

He may or may not earn his master’s degree from the university. If the NFL comes calling, it’s something he can put off for now and return to after retirement.

Regardless of what the future holds, Becht’s mom and dad refuse to let their son be the target of online attacks.