Summer Stories: PA For a Day - Fisher Students Shadow NFL Films, Serve as “Hard Knocks” Production Assistants

Five St. John Fisher University students had the rare opportunity to step behind the cameras of “Hard Knocks,” the Emmy Award-winning HBO documentary series produced by NFL Films, during Buffalo Bills Training Camp at Fisher this summer.

Experiencing Professional Sports Production

Connor Moran ’26, a marketing major with a film and television minor from East Amherst; Maggie Bacon ’27, a sport management and media and communication double major from Dansville; Avery Byrnes ’25, a sport management and marketing double major from Syracuse; Aidan Groeling ’26, a criminology and sport management double majoring from Canandaigua; and Carson Cognetti ’27, a media and communication major from Syracuse, shadowed NFL Films staff as they captured exclusive content with the Bills.

For Moran, the experience highlighted both the scale and the precision of a professional film crew.

“The NFL Films crew were more than welcoming to me and the other Fisher students. They didn’t hold back on showing us anything, even the really behind-the-scenes stuff,” he said. “Every single crew member was extremely talented in their role, whether it was leading a team or capturing unreal shots. Being a part of it felt surreal.”

One of his standout moments was filming from the roof of the Polisseni Track and Field Complex and shadowing crews on the field during practice.

“I was zooming in on Josh Allen’s passes and the receivers’ catches, and it really hit me how hard it is to track the ball while zooming in. Another standout moment was running around with different film crews on the field,” he said. “Being that close to the players and seeing the speed of Bills practice up close was an amazing experience.”

Learning from the Hard Knocks Filming Team

For Bacon, the day was equally transformative, connecting directly to her coursework and career goals.

“Being able to shadow NFL Films employees and the ‘Hard Knocks’ crew in the buildings where I take classes at St. John Fisher was truly inspiring. Then adding in the fact that I witnessed the Bills team play on the field inside the track where I practice and race, was mind blowing,” she said.

Bacon recalled the moment she stood on the platform above the press box, looking through the overhead camera used to capture wide shots of practice.

“I was able to hold and see exactly what was being recorded in real life. During breaks, I had the opportunity to move the camera around and zoom in and out on players,” she said. “It was such a cool moment being able to watch through a camera that seemed clearer than the human eye.”

Experiential Learning in Professional Sports Media

For Byrnes, the experience offered an unforgettable view of professional sports media from inside the action.

“The overall experience was incredible. Learning directly from industry professionals and getting a glimpse into what their day to day work and shooting looks like was fascinating,” she said. “One of the moments I’ll never forget was being right on the sideline, surrounded by players and coaches while we were shooting. Seeing practice and the plays that close up was absolutely unforgettable.”

Byrnes was also struck by the efficiency and coordination of the crew.

“I was amazed at how efficiently the crew worked out of just one room on campus. With all the technology, cords, audio gear, camera accessories, and the number of people involved, it was impressive how smoothly they pulled everything together in a single day’s work,” she said.

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Film Production

For Groeling, the day carried both professional and personal significance. Already experienced in sports media, Groeling he has been involved with camera work since his senior year of high school and has covered major events such as the NCAA Lacrosse Championships, the USA Hockey Championships, the NB All American Lacrosse tournament at Johns Hopkins in Maryland, and has worked with Syracuse Athletics.

“Having been around that level of production for quite some years now, I often find myself not fully appreciative of the opportunities I get. As a Bills fan myself, the experience was one I could not pass on, and all day long it was really cool to see the different types of work that went into creating the show,” he said. “The ‘Hard Knocks’ crew was supportive of our roles, explained things when asked, and truly gave us an amazing inside peek into the show while still being able to do their job.”

One of his favorite moments came during the filming of a scene later featured in the first episode.

“There is a scene of Tre White running through hills near the Athletic Center. Being one-on-one with him during that scene was very surreal as I like more of the quiet emotional moments myself,” he explained.

He noted how eye-opening the scope of the production was. “This valuable experience not only helped me see what the difference is at a more professional and behind-the-scenes level but also helped me develop connections which I’ve found to be most important in the sports world.”

For Cognetti, the day brought both humor and valuable lessons about professional film sets.

“The standout moment was standing next to Joey Bosa for two minutes straight and not recognizing who he was while my crew jumped at the opportunity to film him speaking,” he said.

Cognetti also recalled how impressed he was by the crew’s coordination and professionalism, and enjoyed watching the different departments come together at 7 a.m. to confirm crew objectives for the day.

Connecting to Careers in Marketing, Media, and Film

All five students emphasized how the opportunity connected with their coursework and career aspirations.

Moran, who also runs his own video production company, Levitate Videography, noted how storytelling and marketing intersect in sports.

“‘Hard Knocks’ isn’t just entertainment, it’s also marketing for the Bills. By showing fans the players, the culture, and the energy of the team, it builds excitement and strengthens the Bills’ brand,” he said.

For Bacon, the shadowing opportunity was a step toward her dream of working in community relations for the Buffalo Bills. “If I were to take away one lesson from this experience, it would be to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way and never be afraid to take a risk.”

Byrnes said the day opened doors to career paths she hadn’t previously considered.

“This opportunity really connected to my career aspirations by opening up an avenue I hadn’t considered before. One lesson I took away from this experience is not to be intimidated. Having confidence, asking questions, and being personable helps create a sense of comfort, connection, and respect with everyone in the room.”

For Cognetii, “Hard Knocks” gave him clear takeaways about his future career in film and TV.

“I learned that on TV sets, if anything, be useful. Ask to carry things. Understand equipment,” he explained.

Through their day with “Hard Knocks,” Moran, Bacon, Byrnes, Groeling, and Cognetti left with stronger professional skills, clearer career goals, and an experience they will carry far beyond their time at Fisher.

Throughout the summer months, Fisher students stayed busy conducting research, traveling abroad, engaging in internships, and more. Over the next few weeks, check out the Summer Stories series and learn more about how members of the Fisher community spent their summer.

This article was written by Ranya Alsalahi, a senior film and television studies major. Alsalahi is an intern in the Office of Marketing and Communications at Fisher for the Fall 2025 semester.