It wasn’t all that long ago that Orono High School was one of the state’s football powers. It just seems that way to some of the people there.

Include in that group Mike Archer, the school’s athletic administrator. Archer has watched as the number of players playing football has dwindled at the school and with that Orono’s chances of winning.

“We’ve ended seasons with under 20 healthy bodies and that’s not good,” Archer said.

To try to get more kids interested in football, Archer and a group of Orono residents and former players and coaches have decided to begin a youth football program in the town.

“The first taste of football our kids get is in the sixth grade, where other kids in the surrounding area who have football get it at a much earlier age,” Archer said. “You look at the stronger programs around and they all have feeder programs.”

The plan is to introduce kids to football in the first grade. Archer said first- and second-graders will play flag football. Third- and fourth-graders will also play flag football but will be introduced to pads and helmets.

“It gives them a taste of what the equipment feels like. How to put it on and how to move around with it on,” Archer said.

Archer said the program will be run through the Orono Recreation Department although money for the program is being raised privately.

Kids from Veazie and Glenburn are also eligible to participate. There is a $40 registration fee per child although Archer said that kids will not be turned away.

Archer said that several former Orono players and coaches will be involved in the program including former Orono football coach Bob Lucy, and former players David Paul, Mike Corneil, John Lucy, John Coda, Jay Vetelino and Wally Covell, who returned to Orono last year to take over the high school program.

Covell previously coached the Red Riots from 1961 through 1968, winning two state championships and five LTC titles.

“There have been a lot of people involved at the meetings and donating money,” Archer said.

A golf tournament to benefit the program is scheduled for Monday at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono beginning at noon. The four-person scramble costs $90 per player and includes a social hour and buffet following the golf. Archer said a silent auction will also be held.

Orono, under Lucy’s guidance, won two of the school’s 12 football state championships. The Red Riots have fallen on hard times since Lucy, now the Orono Middle School principal, stepped down before the 1997 season. In the last five seasons, the Red Riots have won just eight times while losing 34 games.

“I think a lot of people out there thought there is no talent. I don’t buy that,” Archer said. “I know when Bobby got done there were some good kids. The key was that they were all running the same [offenses and defenses] from the seventh-grade up. Kids understood the program when they reached high school.”

Archer knows that Orono football is a long way from returning to its glory years but sees the youth program as a step in the right direction.

“We realize it’s not going to happen over night. It doesn’t sound like a lot but we have more than 30 kids signed up for [varsity] football. And Wally Covell has come in and brought class back to the program. I think the kids will follow his lead.”

Don Perryman can be reached at 990-8045, 1-800-310-8600 or dperryman@bangordailynews.net