Orange County Ramblers

The Orange County Ramblers were a professional football team that competed in the Continental Football League from 1967-68. The Ramblers played their home games in Anaheim, California. The team was coached both seasons by Homer Beatty, who had won a small college national title at Santa Ana College in 1962.

1967 season

The Ramblers won the CPFL's Pacific Division with a 10-2 record, and hosted the league's championship game on December 10, 1967, against the Orlando Panthers (11-3). Don Jonas, later a star in the Canadian Football League, spoiled things for the home team by throwing five touchdown passes, leading the Panthers to a 38-14 win.

The following Ramblers made the CPFL Pacific Division All-Star Team: Bruce Smith, Split End; Mike Giers, Guard; Larry Metevia, Center; Rhome Nixon, Tight End; Jerry Otterson, Quarterback; Bob Jackson, Fullback; Rob Berger, Defensive End; Dick Degen, Linebacker; Ron Fowlkes and Darrel Hoover, Defensive Back.

1968 Season

The Ramblers again qualified for the championship game, played in Orlando on November 30, 1968. Again, the Orlando Panthers won the game and the CPFL title, this time by a score of 30-23. Tight End Rhome Nixon and Fullback Bob Jackson again made the league all-star team, as did defensive standout Darrell Hoover.

1969 Season

Despite their on-field success, the Ramblers folded after the 1968 season. In 1969, a new franchise was granted for Honolulu, the Hawaii Warriors, who were given claim to the Ramblers roster and also had partial first claim on players from the defunct Charleston, W.Va. and Oklahoma City franchises. Before the season began, however, the team moved to Portland, Oregon and were renamed the Loggers. After a dismal 3-9 season in the Northwest, the team folded, and the Continental League itself followed suit after the 1969 campaign. [http://www.footballresearch.com/articles/frpage.cfm?topic=contlg]

"Skidoo"

In the 1968 hippie comedy film, "Skidoo" [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063612] , the Ramblers are credited with portraying the Green Bay Packers, then the reigning Super Bowl champions. In their brief scene, the team lines up in formation without any clothing other than their helmets and shoulder pads. Directed by Otto Preminger and featuring such actors as Jackie Gleason, Carol Channing and Mickey Rooney (and, in his final film appearance, Groucho Marx, playing a mob boss named God), the film was a notorious flop.

External links

Ramblers helmet design: [http://www.fh2i.com/teams/cpfl/orangecountyramblers/orangecountyramblers.html]