Coupeville Sports

Anthony Maggio (right) and family. (Tony Maggio photo)

A once-proud football program is returning with some help from Coupeville High School.

Wolf lineman Anthony Maggio has formally committed to playing football this fall for the College of Idaho, a school that sent four players to the National Football League but hasn’t played a game in more than 30 years.

Maggio, who graduated from high school and Skagit Valley College at the same time this year, will enter school as a junior. He plans to carry a double major in biology and chemistry with a minor in psychology and criminal justice.

A standout two-way player for the Wolves, where he played his senior season under dad/coach Tony Maggio, Anthony is expected to help anchor the line for the Coyotes.

“They said tackle, because I start off quick,” Maggio said. “And by the time they start going against other teams, I might be starting.”

The College of Idaho boasted a very successful football program for more than 60 seasons before dropping the sport in the ’70s. Located in Caldwell, Idaho, the school, founded in 1891, will be coached by eight-year NFL vet Mike Moroski.

Moroski was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 1979 and played quarterback for the Falcons, Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers. Among his targets — the greatest receiver in the history of the game, Jerry Rice.

Among the alumni the school can claim are basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor, NFL wide receiver R.C. Owens, Academy Award winner Paul J. Smith (Best Original Score for “Pinocchio”) and grocery store founder Joe Albertson.