Archive for the ‘Spectator Sports’ Category
GRIZ GRIT: UM Football Coaches Do a Thankless Job
By MICK HOLIEN. Why is there such preoccupation with whether a football coach or a staff deserves to be fired?... more
Lady Griz Basketball is in the Air!
By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON - This time of year I always get this familiar feeling in my gut. Crisp mornings, followed by late afternoon warm sun, early sunsets, and... the gym!... more
We Are Family: Griz Family Weekend
By MARGARET DEWILLIAM HORTON - On a Wednesday several weeks ago, I sat poised by the computer, waiting for the stroke of 10 AM Mountain Time (which I had to remember translated to 9 AM Pacific Time). I was hopi... more
GRIZ GRIT: Tragic Endings
By MICK HOLIEN. We all have experienced the premature passing of a great friend, an associate, a relative or maybe just an acquaintance. It’s always a soul-searching experience for me.... more
A Message from Missoula’s MMA Fighters: All Blood Spilled Must Be Wiped Up
By RUSSELL GREENFIELD, UM Student Journalist. On the night of Aug. 13, Jason Zentgraf, a Missoula mixed martial arts fighter, entered the caged ring at the Swinomish Casino in Anacortes, Washington. Across fro... more
GRIZ GRIT: The Best Part of the Year
By MICK HOLIEN. It’s just about my favorite time of year. I cherish the overlap in sports seasons, which in my case involves college football and basketball. ... more
Refs: They’re Just Like Us!
By BOB WIRE - You know why we love watching sports on TV? Same reason we love watching local newscasts—because we love watching people screw up.... more
Grizzlies Lose to Sac State 42-28
By MICK HOLIEN. It was just one of those days or in this case, one of those games. The winning streak over Sacramento is a thing of the past and the Grizzlies, left to their own devices, are back in the midst ... more
UM Grizzlies 17, Eastern Washington 14.
By MICK HOLIEN. For the second straight week, The Griz avenged one of last season’s four losses and in the process of beating a defending National Champion, almost eliminated any chance that Eastern Washingto... more
UM Grizzlies vs Cal Poly
By MICK HOLIEN. The two things I’ve come to understand in a lifetime of sports are: there’s as always much uncertainty waiting just around the corner and there are no givens.... more
UM Grizzlies vs Tennessee
By MICK HOLIEN. You’ve certainly heard of the lull before the storm. And how about the calm in the eye of the hurricane? The 95,000 fans at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville Saturday night got a taste of about eve... more
2011 Grizzly Football Season Outlook
By MICK HOLIEN. Can you even believe it’s been nine months since the Grizzly football season ended on a sour note? So what about this year’s edition of Grizzly football?... more
NCAA Final Four Contest
ENTER TO WIN! MakeItMissoula.com Final Four Bracket Contest. Join us for ways to make March Madness more fun. Ongoing contests will be announced here. ... more
Once a Lady Griz, Always a Lady Griz
By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON. If there’s one word I would use to sum up the Lady Griz basketball program, it would be family. Little did I know that a summer day in 1994 would change my life and my family forever... more
Un-Bear-able Thursday, Satisfying Saturday
By BILL SCHWANKE. All in all, a good bounce-back Saturday for both the men and women at Montana. But as they say, “There’s a long way to go.”... more
Same Start, Different Finish
By BILL SCHWANKE. It looked like the Lady Griz and Griz were headed for the same destination at the beginning of their games against Wyoming and Cal State-Fullerton last week. But fortunately only one team made... more
Grizzly Bill Schwanke’s Blog Tip-Off
By BILL SCHWANKE. Where to begin, when it comes to blogging about Griz and Lady Griz basketball. Especially when you’re perceived by some to be an expert despite the fact that your more direct contact with Gr... more
A Tough End to a Tough Season
By MICK HOLIEN. It was a season predicated by mistakes and it ended Saturday about how it began – with disappointment and frustration.... more
Let the Brawl Begin
By MICK HOLIEN. Just how big a factor a predicted sellout crowd will have on the 109th meeting between the Grizzlies and the Bobcats will be proven early. The defense has to rock MSU freshman quarterback Denari... more
Brawl of the Wild – Griz Cat CONTEST
Check out our 2011 Big Sky Classic contest. Enter to win a $50 gift certificate to the Montana Club! 103 years. 109 meetings. One legendary rivalry. Dating back to 1897, the Grizzlies and the Bobcats boas... more
Still in the Hunt
11/14 Blog by MICK HOLIEN. You can say what you want about this year’s edition of University of Montana football but one thing is for sure – while I’ll take a winning mark any old time, this group of Griz... more
The Fighting Sioux Will Bring Attitude…
11/10 Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. There is little doubt that the University of North Dakota football team will bring attitude to Washington Grizzly Stadium for Senior Day on Saturday. And if the... more
Down to a Two-Game Season
10/31 Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. Something strange must’ve happened in Montana’s locker room at halftime. About the time the Grizzles were enjoying prosperity, the same Grizzly team that in r... more
Hands Full with the Wildcats
10/27 Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. It wasn’t with a warm feeling that I pulled away from Stewart Stadium in Ogden two years ago after the Wildcats handed it to the then No. 3 Griz by outscoring th... more
Wish You Were Here
10/26 Blog by Verina Palmer Martin. It’s just another Saturday in October and we’re surrounded by the usual crowd of zealous Griz fans wearing a sea of maroon and talking up Montana football. We’ve got a ... more
One Wild Saturday
10/24 Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. A single walk-off win is a rare commodity in sports but back-to-back walk-offs… you have just got to be kidding me. But that’s what Montana Grizzly fans have b... more
The Griz Are Still on Track
10/20 Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. In heading to Missoula Saturday, Northern Arizona is facing its second top 10 team in as many weeks. This time, it’s not inside the Walkup Skydome, which is goo... more
Sometimes Good Teams Have to ‘Win Ugly’
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. That’s what good teams do--win ugly--and indeed, it was at times ugly. But more importantly, they climb into a first-place tie in the Big Sky Conference standings with... more
Ready for a Rumble?
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. Now in the heart of the Big Sky Conference schedule, the Grizzlies play two of their next three games on the road against teams with quality quarterbacks: Northern Ar... more
Inching Closer to the Money
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. If this is going to be a Montana team that reaches the heights of teams before them in recent years, and obtains goals set by a new coaching staff, there are plenty of ... more
There’s No Place Like Home
By MICK HOLIEN With four of its last six games in the friendly confines of Washington Grizzly Stadium, the remaining University of Montana football schedule rings favorably for the Grizzlies. They've now won... more
A Workman-Like Effort Prevailed
By MICK HOLIEN Even if Grizzly football remains a work in progress, there were signs Saturday afternoon in Colorado that while all things have not immediately been righted with a pair of wins after consecuti... more
Just How Much News Can Happen in a Sports Day?
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. With the career-ending shoulder injury to fifth-year University of Montana quarterback Andrew Selle, there was little doubt that Justin Roper, the University of Orego... more
A Win is a Win is a Win Baby….
By Mick Holien A win is a win, is a win, is a win baby and I’ll take it. It wasn’t by any means pretty and Saturday’s Homecoming victory over Sacramento State might prove costly but the Grizzlies balan... more
Blue Sky Ahead with Maroon Sprinkled In
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. There just isn’t much choice than to bring out... more
Not Ready to Throw in the Season Towel
Blog by "Voice of the Griz" Mick Holien. I have never awakened in this position... more
A Kicking Chance
Wanted for open tryouts: Someone who can... more
Early Loss is Not a Season Breaker
Well it had to happen some time...... more
On the Road to Cal Poly
It’s on the road for the Grizzlies for the first time in 2010... more
The “X” Factor and Western State College
You spend an entire spring and fall preparing for every possible eventuality and from being around sports for a long time I can tell you it all can go for naught in a heartbeat. I call it an “X” factor b... more
Are You Ready for Some Football?
All the speculation and prognostication aside, there’s already been collegiate football contested and for the Montana Grizzlies the 2010 season is upon in just hours and just how exciting is that? Last nig... more
Marc Mariani – From Montana Griz to Tennessee Titan
Some times good things just do happen to good people. That is surely the case with former Grizzly All American Marc Mariani who is making the most of his pre-season time with Tennessee. Some Titan faithfu... more
Welcome to Mick it Missoula
By Mick Holien So here we go football fans. The long-awaited 2010 season is upon us this week as the FCS national-runner-up Grizzlies take to the home field Saturday to open the 2010 season. And here I ... more
Pleasing Your Palate in Missoula
Hungry? You'll be able to satisfy just about any craving in Missoula! Whether it's a casual meal for the family, a fine dining experience, or dessert after a concert or play, Missoula offers a wealth of opt... more
Drop-in Child Care
Looking for child care for a night on the town, while you shop, or to catch a Griz game at the U? Or maybe you’re seeking permanent child care but have a need for care in the meantime? Missoulians are fort... more
Monte Mascot Mania
Monte - UM's award winning mascot wins over fans. More than a university named as one of the nation’s most scenic, The University of Montana has caught the country's attention for its reputation of out... more