Saying thank you just isn’t enough.

Receiving the Butler Football Hometown Hero award prior to last Friday’s game against General McLane at Art Bernardi Stadium made me reflect on my 25 years of covering that football program.

It’s no secret I haven’t seen a whole lot of winning during that time. Butler was 6-4 in 1997 — my first year here — and hasn’t posted a winning season since.

I have, however, seen a lot of winners within that program and in the athletic program.

Winners are people who care enough about something to sink their hearts and souls into it.

Guys like Mark Farabee, who I recall pacing outside the locker room at Bethel Park following a 13-6 WPIAL playoff loss in 1998, a game he believes to this day his team should have won.

Though he hasn’t been head football coach in 20 years, Farabee remains active in high school athletics, officiating basketball games and track meets.

Guys like Jeff McAnallen, who left a consistent winner at North Hills, where he was offensive line coach, to return to his alma mater to take over as head coach — because that’s how much he cares about Butler.

Guys like Rob Densmore, who made a similar move, vacating his post as defensive coordinator at Pine-Richland to take over at Butler. As so many coaches did before him, he sank endless hours into attempts to reverse the losing trend on the field.

Guys like current coach Eric Christy, a former Golden Tornado quarterback, who has patiently pieced together an on-field product on the verge of breaking through.

Guys like Matt Clement, who does not coach football, but who chose to not only raise his family in his hometown, but to return to the basketball program he once played for, to become its head coach.

Clement and his wife could have raised their kids anywhere. They love their hometown. And Clement cares only about helping Butler kids while teaching them the sport he loves.

Butler’s had its moments on the gridiron over the past 25 years. The Tornado ended North Hills’ long winning streak with a 28-20 triumph in 2000. A 19-7 win over Pine-Richland in 2012 got Butler into the playoffs.

I saw Butler end a long losing streak by defeating Blackhawk last season. I saw Shaler end its own long losing streak by beating Butler here. I saw Tornado players in tears on the field after both of those games, for different reasons, obviously.

But the cause of those tears was the same — passion for the game, their families and their school.

Two years ago, Butler had 28 players suited up for a game at Pine-Richland — which had 80-plus players. The score was lopsided against the Tornado when a Butler kid hustled all the way downfield to tackle a P-R player inside the 5-yard line, preventing a long touchdown run.

It’s pieces of passionate plays and people like that which have held this program together through its struggles.

Now Butler has 70-plus players of its own. It’s finding ways to win. It’s clearly turning the corner.

It’s an honor to be called a Hometown Hero — because I’ve been watching plenty of them on that field for the past 25 years.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.