In a constantly changing world, the Belfast football team has been a model of consistency.

Butch Arthers, Butch Richards, and Hal Halliday have walked the sidelines, conducted the practices, and wiped their players’ noses since 1992. They have also produced four Eastern Maine championships and two state championships.

There will be something of a change at Belfast this year, but not so much that anyone will notice, Arthers says.

“The principal position opened up [at the high school] and I was encouraged to apply. Obviously, with me being football coach, there was some concern about the time factor involved in doing both jobs.”

Arthers says he approached Richards about sharing some of the head coaching responsibilities.

“It’s not really a change from what we’ve been doing,” Arthers says. “I feel we’ve run our team by committee. Butch has been the offensive coordinator since the beginning. Hal Halliday has been the defensive coordinator. We collaborate on just about everything we do.”

Richards says the changes are primarily of an administrative nature.

“I’ll be helping out with some of the behind-the-scenes stuff. I think we just wanted to make sure that [Arthers] was successful as a principal and keep his passion for football.”

The Belfast offense is built on misdirection. Arthers brought it to Belfast from Marshwood High School in Eliot. He was an assistant under Rod Wotton when the Hawks were making mince meat of Maine high school football, winning seven state titles in three school classifications over a nine-year period.

Arthers says he and Richards were friends at the University of Maine. When the job opened in Belfast, it was Richards who encouraged him to make the move.

“He’s really the reason I came here. He was very high on Belfast. He has always believed in Belfast,” Arthers says.

Richards’ powers of persuasion helped to turn around a football program that had been going nowhere in the years prior to Arthers’ arrival.

“It’s been a nice run the last six years,” Richards says.

And if Mike Siviski, the coach of the defending Class B state champion Winslow Black Raiders, is correct, the Belfast run will continue this year.

“You ought to hand Belfast the gold ball right now. They’re loaded,” Siviski says.

That draws a laugh from both Arthers and Richards, who suspect Siviski may be attempting to set the Lions up for a fall.

“We’re optimistic,” Richard says. “We have some talented players. But there are a lot of good football teams in the LTC.”

BELFAST LIONS

2000 results: 9-2, Eastern Maine Class B finalist (lost 27-20 to Winslow in Eastern Maine Class B championship game)

Head coach: Butch Arthers, 10th year

Key players: Jeff Parenteau, RB, Sr.; Colby Horne, RB, Sr.; Ben Cowan, QB, Sr.; Chris Duval, E-OLB, Sr.; Zach Gallant, T, Jr.; Red Woodbury, G, Sr.; Denis Potvin, G, Sr.; Justin Reynolds, DE, Sr.; Andy Riposta, LB, Sr.; Matt Welch, LB, Jr.; Kevin Gray, DB, Sr.

Outlook: For once the Lions aren’t replacing a 1,000-yard rusher. Jeff Parenteau is back after a 17-touchdown, 1,179-yard campaign in 2000. The replacement comes at quarterback where Ben Cowan replaces the graduated Ben Morley. Morley was a true magician running the Lions’ misdirection scheme. The coaches say Cowan has waited patiently for his chance and is ready. Additionally, Colby Horne’s speed out of the backfield should give opponents fits. Arthers ranks Horne among the state’s top 100- and 200-meter runners and says Woodbury is one of the best linemen in the state. All of this adds up to another Belfast run at the title.