A 4-year starter on Carroll’s gridiron, Dan Rambo was a 3-time first team All-Frontier Conference selection at running back, and the Saints’ first 3-time football All-American – NAIA 1972, AP Little 1973-74 (each honorable mention). A 5’11”, 190-pounder from Libby, Rambo played defensive back as a freshman before switching to offense. He missed the entire 1971 season due to a broken foot, but through hard work and determination came back to set several Hilltop rushing records. In his backfield debut, he gained 189 yards (54 for a touchdown) in 1972 versus Minot State.
Slowed by injury the last half of the season, he still produced 640 yards and eight TDS, three in the win over Eastern. The next year, “Ramblin” Rambo ran for 910 yards (130 per game), tying the CC record of 15 rushing touchdowns. In the win over Rocky, he gained 203 yards and sped to four scores. Dan bulked up to a muscular 205 lbs. his final season, when he became the first Hilltopper to gain over 1000 yards. He broke the single game rushing records twice, going for 246 yards versus Eastern, and 262 against Rocky, with a pair of scores each time. Rambo led the nation in rushing, averaging 152.1 yards per game, while helping the Saints to their third straight league crown.
His 1145 season and 2715 career rushing yards were both school marks. Rambo finished with 33 combined TDs – 31 rushing (another Hilltop record), 1 receiving, 1 passing – and 4 conversion runs, for 202 lifetime points. He attended numerous pro tryouts, including the NFL’s NY Giants, Packers, Broncos and Raiders. After one season of minor league football in Wheeling (WV), Rambo served 12 years in administrative or scouting roles in the CFL, and from 1998-2006 he was a Northeast Regional scout for the Denver Broncos.
