AUGUSTA (AP) – A group of lawmakers is making a push for the University of Southern Maine to take a second look at establishing a college football program.

State Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, is leading an effort to require USM to undertake a study of a football team and present its findings next year.

Tuttle said he believes there is enough interest to support a football team, even though football boosters failed three years ago to raise enough money to start a program.

“I have calls from people. They say, Great idea. I will send you a couple grand,”‘ he said.

The effort comes three years after high school football coaches and prominent southern Maine residents tried to raise $2.1 million to get a football program under way.

The money would have paid for a $1 million artificial turf field at the Gorham campus and set up an endowment for an 80-member team. The nonprofit group Friends of USM Football, however, raised only about $300,000.

A university spokesman said the school is still interested in fielding a football team, but it doesn’t want to spend tuition money or taxpayer dollars to start it.

Supporters of a USM team said that only a handful of Maine students play college football at the University of Maine or other Division I schools. Many of the state’s Division III programs at colleges such as Bowdoin and Colby, where high admission standards limit the number of Maine students who can attend.

House Speaker John Richardson, D-Brunswick, has given initial support to the study. He said football has benefits for the school community and Maine students who want to continue playing.

“Not everyone can play Division I football,” Richardson said.

Tuttle said a major donor is ready to contribute as much as $1 million, and the team will get further support if legislators and university officials back it. He said legislators will consider the proposal in the coming months.

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