When catcher Joe Blackburn was brought home from a Pittsburgh hospital after being born, he was outfitted in a Penn State T-shirt.

While in New York, pitcher Mike Wanamaker spent his Saturdays watching Penn State football as a kid.

Both of them had parents who are Penn State alumni, which isn't very unusual. But both Blackburn and Wanamaker had fathers who were Penn State athletes.

Blackburn's father, also named Joe, wrestled for one year under coach Rich Lorenzo during the 1980-81 season as a walk-on 150 pounder.

Steven Wanamaker played linebacker for Joe Paterno from 1973-75.

Yet, neither Blackburn nor Wanamaker pushed their sons to their alma mater.

"We tried very hard not to push him to Penn State," Blackburn's father said.

Mike went to Boston College but left after his freshman year when coach Pete Hughes departed for Virginia Tech. Mike transferred to St. Petersburg Junior College in Florida for his sophomore year and waited to hear from Division I coaches.

"When I was at junior college and coaches started calling me, I was really waiting for Penn State because I heard they were at the showcase that all the coaches were at," Mike said.

His dad was also excited about his son coming to Penn State.

"It gave me personally a chance to rekindle some old friendships," he said.

Despite being the son of a former football player, Mike had never been to a Penn State football game until he made his visit to the campus last year.

Mike also said he hasn't reflected on what is like to be a second-generation Penn State athlete.

"Not really," he said. "I never really knew many people around here until just right now so it really doesn't have any effect at all."

With the younger Blackburn, he hasn't spoken much to his father about his time as a Penn State athlete. When the Penn State catcher was younger, he also wrestled, and the two would talk about Blackburn's time as a Penn State wrestler.

The two don't talk about it much nowadays, the younger Blackburn said. Instead, he'll be reminded when he goes to Rec Hall and sees his dad in the team picture hanging on the wall.

"It's something I'm pretty proud of. I'm proud that my dad was a Penn State student-athlete," Blackburn said. "Hopefully, continue that sense of pride in the family, that's really my biggest thing."