The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Posts Tagged ‘Grizzly Athletics’

Attendance, Kick Times, and Broadcast Details Set For Griz Spring Games

The Montana football team will have a limited number of fans in attendance at its two spring football games, kick times have been confirmed.... more

Montana’s Offense Reloaded for 2021

When the Montana Grizzlies take the field for their first official practice of spring on Friday, one of their many offensive weapons will be running back Marcus Knight.... more

Louie-McGee Signs Contract to Play at Edmonton

Montana's record-breaking wide receiver Jerry Louie-McGee has officially signed to play professionally for the Edmonton Football Team of the Canadian Football League.... more

Montana Earns Upset Win Over Washington

It was a happy homecoming for head coach Travis DeCuire, who earned a 66-58 win over the Washington Huskies on Wednesday night.... more

Mick Holien, “Voice of the Griz” for a Generation, Remembered as One of “The Good Guys”

Grizzly Athletics plans to pay tribute to Holien in the fall of 2021 when the fans he cared for so much are once again able to pack into Washington-Grizzly Stadium and Dahlberg Arena.... more

Montana Basketball Season to Start Without Fans for Home Games

The Montana basketball teams will start the upcoming season without fans for their home games at Dahlberg Arena.... more

Tiemann Named “Voice of the Lady Griz”

The University of Montana women’s basketball program welcomes a new play-by-play broadcaster this season: Shawn Tiemann ... more

Olson, Louie-McGee Named to Edmonton’s Negotiation List

Former Grizzlies Dante Olson and Jerry Louie-McGee have been added to the Edmonton Football Team's negotiation list, officially claiming the exclusive Canadian Football League rights of the two Montana stan... more

Griz Picked No. 7 in Preseason Media Poll

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies were slotted in at No. 7 in the first, and only, STATS Perform FCS Top 25 media poll of the year, the organization announced Tuesday.... more

Big Sky Postpones All Fall Sports Until Spring 2021

Due to ongoing concerns related to COVID-19, the Big Sky Conference is postponing all competition for its fall sports to spring 2021.... more

Statement on Montana’s Home Football Game Against Morehead State

Morehead State has informed Montana director of athletics Kent Haslam of their intention to obtain a waiver from the Pioneer League to play the Montana/Morehead State game as scheduled.  ... more

Big Sky Kickoff Moved to July 23-24

The Big Sky Conference's annual Football Kickoff has been moved up to Thurs. July 23-24. All 13 league head coaches and one student-athlete from each football program will participate.... more

Tom Stage Has Signed Off For the Last Time

The voice of the Lady Griz? That’s a designation, and now honorific, that belongs to Tom Stage, who retired over the weekend after calling Montana women’s basketball games for 25 seasons.... more

Griz Football Classics Set For Re-Air on ROOT Sports & SWX

Montana's 1995 National Championship win over Marshall is set to highlight a 31-game slate of Big Sky Conference classic football game re-broadcasts on ROOT Sports and SWX Montana.... more

Griz Football Season Ticket Renewal Extended

Grizzly Athletics has made the decision to temporarily delay mailing season ticket renewals to current holders.... more

Grizzly Athletics Announces Social Distancing Measures

The University of Montana Department of Athletics will suspend all practices and group team activities through March 29... more

Bears Spoil Grizzlies’ Control of 1st Place

By NIC HALLISEY - The Bears handed Montana a 71-64 loss on Thursday night, severely damaging Montana's chance to win a third consecutive regular-season championship.... more

Montana, Hauck Agree to New Four-Year Contract

The University of Montana and Bobby Hauck, the school's winningest football coach of all time, have agreed to a new four-year contract, extending him through January 2024.... more

Seniors Lead Montana to Another Brawl of the Wild Victory

Montana capped a decade of dominance against Montana State on Saturday, winning for the 19th time in the past 20 meetings.... more

Pridgett Earns Big Sky Player-of-the-Week Honors Once Again

After averaging 24.5 points per game, including a near-triple-double vs. Idaho State, Sayeed Pridgett was a no-brainer to be named the Big Sky Conference Ready Nutrition Player of the Week.... more

Montana Lets Lead Slip Away at Weber State

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana led for all but 2 minutes of regulation, including by seven points with under 2 minutes to play, before Weber State closed the period on an 8-1 run to force overtime.  ... more

Montana Holds On at Idaho State

By NIC HALLISEY - It wasn't easy, but at the end of the night, Montana is 7-1 in Big Sky Conference play following another victory on the road.... more

Carter-Hollinger Tabbed as Big Sky Player of the Week

NIC HALLISEY - On Tuesday, it was Derrick Carter-Hollinger's turn in the spotlight. The freshman averaged 16.5 points per game on an incredible .789 shooting (15-of-19), in addition to 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 block... more

Olson Wins Buck Buchanan Award

On its 25th anniversary, Olson became just the third Grizzly ever to be awarded the STATS FCS Buck Buchanan Award, presented annually to the FCS Defensive Player of the Year at the STATS FCS Awards Banquet.... more

Manuel’s Clutch Free Throws Lift Grizzlies to Slugfest Wim over Hornets

Tied at 50-50 with 5.2 seconds to play, Montana inbounded the ball with the intention to run a cross, hoping to find a backdoor cut down low, or somehow get to the rim.  ... more

Big Sky-Best Five Griz Named All-American by HERO Sports

A Big Sky Conference-best five Montana Grizzlies have earned All-America honors from HERO Sports, the online sports news outlet announced Monday.... more

Griz Up to #3 in National Polls Ahead of Brawl of the Wild

As expected, the Montana Grizzlies have risen to No. 3 in the major national polls this week after a 35-16 demolition of the previously third-ranked Weber State Wildcats over the weekend.... more

Griz Make Statement With Dominant Win Over #3 Weber State

By ERIC TABER - Fueled by big plays and a dominant defense, the No. 4/5 Griz rolled to a 35-16 win against No. 3 Weber State in a battle of the Big Sky's top two teams.... more

Toure, Lewis Named ROOT Sports Big Sky Players of the Week

By ERIC TABER - For the second time this season and only the third time since 2013, two Montana Grizzlies have been named ROOT Sports Big Sky Conference Players of the Week.... more

Griz Rise in Polls Setting Up Top-5 Showdown With Weber State

The Montana Grizzlies rose to No. 4 in the NCAA FCS Coaches' Poll and No. 5 in the STATS FCS Media Poll on Monday, setting up a top-5 showdown with No. 3 Weber State on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium in... more

Pridgett Lifts Grizzlies Past Lights

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana earned its first victory of the season, pulling out a 64-50 win over MSU Northern on Sunday afternoon.... more

Montana Overcomes Early Errors to Beat Idaho

By ERIC TABER - The No. 6 Grizzlies scored 28 unanswered points in three quarters after facing a double-digit deficit early en route to the win over Idaho on Saturday.... more

Sneed Named to “Performer of the Year” Watch List

By ERIC TABER - On Tuesday, College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) recognized Dalton Sneed with a place on its midseason FCS National Performer of the Year watchlist.... more

Griz Move up to #5/6 in Weekly Polls

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies returned to the top five in one of the two main national rankings this week following a decisive 38-23 road win over Portland State that improved the Griz to 7-2 on the sea... more

Strong 2nd Half Lifts Montana to Impressive Road Win at Portland State

By ERIC TABER - All season Montana has been a second-half team, and that hasn't been more apparent than it was on Saturday, when the Grizzlies rallied for a 38-23 victory at Portland State.... more

Ground Game Gets Going asGriz Run Over Eagles

By ERIC TABER - The win brings Montana to 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in the Big Sky, keeping them in the hunt for the Big Sky Championship.... more

Eagles to Return to Missoula for Rivalry Showdown

The Montana Grizzlies return home to a renewed rivalry this week as the Eastern Washington Eagles come to town for the first time since 2017 after sitting out a one-year hiatus in 2018, a lapse in the schedule ... more

Service Members and Veterans to Receive Ticket Discount for Military Appreciation Day

By ERIC TABER - Montana Grizzlies are offering a discount on tickets to UM's Military Appreciation football game against Idaho, set for Nov. 9 at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

Griz Rebound From Slow Start to Route Bengals

By ERIC TABER - Montana proved it is a championship-caliber team and kept its season rolling with a 59-20 win over the Bengals to improve its record to 5-1.... more

Griz Look to Keep Momentum Hosting Dangerous Idaho State

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies return home for Homecoming this week following a 45-20 demolition of the previously 4/5 ranked UC Davis Aggies.... more

Louie-McGee named ROOT Sports Big Sky Player of the Week

For any of the 24,000-plus watching on Saturday night the following news will come as no surprise: Montana's Jerry Louie-McGee has been named the ROOT Sports Big Sky Conference Special Teams Player of the Wee... more

New-Look Grizzly O-Line Bigger and Better in 2019

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies hit the weight room for the first time at fall camp on Monday morning, and also hit the scales to gather official weights and heights.... more

Griz Open Season Ranked No. 25

The excitement surrounding the 2019 Grizzly football season continues to rise on the eve of the first practice of the year.... more

Griz QBs Feature Depth and Versatility in 2019

By ERIC TABER -0 The Montana Grizzlies officially return to the field in one week's time with the first practice of fall camp on Tuesday, Aug. 6 starting the leadup to the season opener at South Dakota.... more

Great Griz Encounter And Movie Night Returns August 23

Join us at Washington-Grizzly Stadium for the Great Griz Encounter! giving fans the chance to meet both the Montana football and volleyball teams.... more

Montana, DeCuire Agree to New 3-Year Contract

By NIC HALLISEY - The University of Montana announced on Monday a new contract for head basketball coach Travis DeCuire.... more

Montana, Michigan Paired Up Once Again

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana is headed back to the NCAA tournament, and it will begin Thursday vs. a familiar opponent.... more

Time to Celebrate the Seniors, Saturday vs. Southern Utah

By NIC HALLISEY - Saturday isn't the end of the road or even the team's last home game of the season. But it will be the night Montana will celebrate its tremendous senior class.... more

Win Streak Snapped at 10 Games

By NIC HALLISEY - A winning streak that began 44 days ago at Northern Colorado ended against the same Bears team on Monday night.... more

Griz Run Win Streak to 10 With Victory Over Bobcats

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana earned yet another season sweep over rival MSU on Saturday night, leading from start to finish with a sold-out crowd.... more