Football Media Day 2025. Gricel Hernandez illustration

The energy was high, the pizza was hot and the excitement for the upcoming season was even hotter at Butler Eagle Football Media Day, held Aug. 4 at Butler High School.

Coaches and players from 10 schools from across Butler County participated in a jam-packed day. Players suited up for photo shoots, sat down for interviews with sports reporters and even took turns on the mic for upcoming episodes of the “Eye on Sports” podcast. (Yes, they’re just as confident behind a microphone as they are under Friday night lights.)

Between bites of pizza and laughs shared with players from rival schools, the athletes got a taste of the spotlight — and a preview of the excitement to come this fall. Social media interviews added a modern twist, giving players a chance to show their personality beyond the field.

Check out more behind-the-scenes action from media day and, if you missed it, check out what we learned below. More football and fall sports previews are publishing daily throughout the next two weeks.

Butler football players Beau Burchett, Sone Spack and Tyson Pino at Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Knoch, North Catholic and Seneca Valley football players enjoy some pizza during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Knoch and Freeport football players eat and interact with each other during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Slippery Rock football players Jacob Reich, Owen Long, Doug Popovec and Sawyer Allen getting ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” with sports editor Jake Merda Adams during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

North Catholic football players Nick Franco, Reid Rinker, Joe Felitsky and sports editor Jake Merda Adams getting ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Seneca Valley football players Cayden Parker, Tommy Wuycheck, Adam Gehm and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Freeport football players Anthony O'Donnell, Owen Neistein and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Moniteau football players Braden Beachem, Brendin Sankey, Levi Lacava and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Mars football players Ethan Kresinski, Zach Dentel, Ayden Yocum and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Butler football players Beau Burchett, Stone Spack, Tyson Pino and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Union/A-C Valley football players Max Gallagher, Aidan Fox, Colbin Elliott and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Karns City football players Kolby Blair, Sean Slaughenhoupt, CJ Emrick and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Knoch football players Carter Worsley, Zach Szebalskie, Ben Allen andd Koen Sundie get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Several Butler County football teams enjoy pizza during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Moniteau football players and coaches hang out during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.

Knoch’s Ben Allen and Koen Sundie are interviewed by reporter John Enrietto during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Brendan Howe interviews Butler football coach Eric Christy during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.

Derek Pyda interviews Karns City’s Kolby Blair during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.

Moniteau’s Braden Beachem, Brendin Sankey and Levi Lacava relax during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle

Freeport’s Anthony O'Donnell and Owen Neistein relax during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.

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  Butler football players Beau Burchett, Sone Spack and Tyson Pino at Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Knoch, North Catholic and Seneca Valley football players enjoy some pizza during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Knoch and Freeport football players eat and interact with each other during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Slippery Rock football players Jacob Reich, Owen Long, Doug Popovec and Sawyer Allen getting ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” with sports editor Jake Merda Adams during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  North Catholic football players Nick Franco, Reid Rinker, Joe Felitsky and sports editor Jake Merda Adams getting ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Seneca Valley football players Cayden Parker, Tommy Wuycheck, Adam Gehm and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Freeport football players Anthony O'Donnell, Owen Neistein and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Moniteau football players Braden Beachem, Brendin Sankey, Levi Lacava and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Mars football players Ethan Kresinski, Zach Dentel, Ayden Yocum and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Butler football players Beau Burchett, Stone Spack, Tyson Pino and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Union/A-C Valley football players Max Gallagher, Aidan Fox, Colbin Elliott and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Karns City football players Kolby Blair, Sean Slaughenhoupt, CJ Emrick and sports editor Jake Merda Adams get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Knoch football players Carter Worsley, Zach Szebalskie, Ben Allen andd Koen Sundie get ready to record an episode of “Eye on Sports” during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Several Butler County football teams enjoy pizza during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Moniteau football players and coaches hang out during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.
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  Knoch’s Ben Allen and Koen Sundie are interviewed by reporter John Enrietto during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Brendan Howe interviews Butler football coach Eric Christy during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.
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  Derek Pyda interviews Karns City’s Kolby Blair during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.
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  Moniteau’s Braden Beachem, Brendin Sankey and Levi Lacava relax during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle
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  Freeport’s Anthony O'Donnell and Owen Neistein relax during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025, at Butler High School. Gricel Hernandez/Butler Eagle.