Orange County Ramblers
 |
|
| Established | 1967 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 1969 |
| Based in |
Santa Ana, California Anaheim, California |
| Home field | Municipal Stadium, Santa Ana Anaheim Stadium |
| Head coach | Homer Beatty |
| General manager | Jack Stovall |
| Owner(s) | Charles G. Schlegal |
| League | Continental Football League |
| Division | Pacific |
| Colours | Seal brown, orange, and white |
| Division titles | 2 |
The Orange County Ramblers were a professional football team that competed in the Continental Football League from 1967 to 1968. The Ramblers played their home games in Santa Ana, California and 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.
The Ramblers won the CoFL's Pacific Division with a 10-2 record, winning all six of their home contests. The first four Ramblers home games were held at Municipal Stadium in Santa Ana; the team's success, and the poor crowds in Santa Ana (12,201 total for the three known games) led the squad to move to Anaheim Stadium for their last two home games, which drew 20,396 fans. On December 10, 1967, Orange County hosted the league's championship game against the Orlando Panthers (11-3), in front of a crowd of 8,730 in Anaheim. 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.
Ten Ramblers made the CoFL 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.
After drawing decent crowds in Anaheim late in the 1967 season, the Ramblers moved permanently to Anaheim Stadium in 1968. Again, they won all six of their home games en route to a 11-1 record and another Pacific Division title. The Ramblers traveled to Orlando on November 30, 1968, to play in their second consecutive championship game. Unfortunately for Orange County, the result was the same: the Panthers won the game and the CoFL title, this time by a score of 30-23. It would turn out to be the last game the Ramblers would ever play, as they drew just 13,290 fans to their four home games at Anaheim Stadium, plus an estimated 5,000 to a pair of rescheduled games held at Orange Show Stadium in San Bernadino.
Tight End Rhome Nixon and Fullback Bob Jackson again made the league all-star team, as did defensive standouts Ron Fowlkes and Darrell Hoover. (The 1968 CoFL All-Star team was for the entire league; there were no separate all-star teams for the two divisions.)
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