BUTTE — As a steady drizzle of rain fell on Naranche Stadium on Friday at the stroke of midnight, Butte High's football team was out on the field preparing for the 2026 season.
The midnight madness tradition was started by head coach Arie Grey — now in his 19th season guiding the Bulldogs — back in 2012 and is all about not wasting a second and hitting the gridiron as soon as allowed.
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"The kids get excited, it kind of gets them locked in and motivated," said Grey ahead of the midnight practice. "Let's go, it's go time. This is something a lot of these kids have dreamed about, that opportunity to get out on Naranche at midnight. So, we're ready to roll."
"It's very exciting, the whole summer anticipating it," said senior wide receiver and running back Miner Lee. "Especially outside at night. There's nothing like it."
The Bulldogs went 3-7 in 2025, dropping five straight in the middle of the season then winning back-to-back games to close out the regular season before falling to Great Falls CMR in the opening round of the Class AA playoffs.
"For us, it's a new year, a new team," said Grey. "Last year is kind of in the past and so that's what we talk about is you've gotta start fresh, it doesn't matter what we did whether it was good or bad."
The Bulldogs return some key skill players but will have a new starting quarterback in Raeder Grey, Arie's son.
"It's an honor to play for him," said Raeder of getting to be QB1 with his dad as head coach. "It's fun, every day you get to look forward to practice. Even at home we were excited. It's awesome."
Butte will open its season at Gallatin on Aug. 28 and then play its home opener against Billings Skyview on Sept. 4.
