Dan Bukovich played both ways for the Rockets at offensive guard and linebacker from 1937-39. A three-year starter, Bukovich starred on teams that finished 6-3, 6-3-1 and 7-3, respectively, for a three-year record of 19-9-1. During the 1939 season, the Rockets lost their three by a heartbreaking total of three points.

    He was one of three natives of Hibbing, Minnesota-Lou Marotti and Fred Lucenti were the others- recruited to Toledo by head football coach Clarence "Doc" Spears. By their sophomore year the three became affectionately as the "Hibbing Triplets."

   Bukovich's rookie year marked the first time a Rocket football team had ever defeated the Miami University gridders, as UT defeated the Redskins 13-7 in the second game in the newly built Glass Bowl. The following year (1938) he aided in the snapping of 12th-ranked Marshall's four-game winning streak, with the Rockets defeating the Thundering Herd 13-7.

  In 1938 Bukovich was named to the All-Ohio team as an offensive guard. He was also named honorary captain of the squad, based on the number of votes he received. That same season, the Associated Press honored Bukovich by placing him on their "Little" All-America Team; thus he became the first Rocket football player in history to receive first-team All-America honors.

    After earning All-Ohio first-team honors again in 1939, Bukovich signed with the Buffalo Indians of the American Football League. However his professional football career was very limited, as he was drafted into the U.S. Army in June of 1941. He was quickly promoted to corporal and participated in the invasion of Southern France in 1944. He won several armed services commendations before his discharge in November of 1945. Bukovich was known throughout his life for his leadership qualities and discipline. A college classmate once wrote of him. "While (other students) had their fun parties, beer busts and initiations, (Dan) spent his afternoons practicing and neither had the time nor energy left over to act silly. He still had homework, too." Dan Bukovich passed away in 1972.