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

Archive for the ‘All Sports & Recreation’ Category

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

Balanced Griz roll to win over Monmouth

By ERIC TABER - Montana put together another big second half at home Saturday against Monmouth, running away from its Big South opponent.... 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

Griz Picked Fourth, Fitfth, in Preseason Polls

By ERIC TABER - With a first-place vote in each, the Grizzlies have been selected to finish fourth by the Big Sky Conference's coaches and fifth by the media in the league's annual preseason polls.... more

Montana Football: Griz Women’s Football Clinic Set for June 6

By ERIC TABER - Announcing the return of the Griz Women's Football Clinic, a fun way for female fans to learn more about football and interact with coaches and staff.... more

Montana’s Special Drawing Deadlines Reminder

Montana FWP's deadlines to apply for special license drawings is May 1 for bison, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat; and June 1 for the elk B, deer B and antelope license drawings.... more

Hunting Permit Drawing Results Now Available

By JOLEEN TADEJ - The wait is over. Hunters can now check the results of the 2019 nonresident combination and elk and deer permit drawing to see if they were successful.... more

Team USA is Coming to Montana, Looking for Olympic Hopefuls

By NIC HALLISEY - The United States Olympic Committee has selected the University of Montana as one of six testing locations and will host a pro day on campus on Monday, April 29.... more

2019 International Fly Fishing Film Festival Features Trout-To-Taimen Around the World

World-wide fly-fishing adventures will be premiered at the 2019 International Fly Fishing Film Festival, April 27 at the Wilma Theater, Missoula, MT.... more

Dragon Hollow Expansion in Need of Volunteers and Tools

A Carousel for Missoula is looking for 2,300 volunteers to help refurbish and expand Dragon Hollow Playarea. ... more

27th Annual Run for the Trees Slated For April 20th

By BECKY GOODRICH - Celebrate National Arbor Month with a fun walk or run along the Riverfront trail system.... more

Balanced Griz Take Field for Opening Scrimmage of Spring

By ERIC TABER - When the first scrimmage of spring football rolls around, fans usually come away thinking one side of the ball "won" the scrimmage.... more

Historic Season Comes to a Close in NCAA Tournament

By NIC HALLISEY - The Grizzlies never quit, but Michigan showed why it is was deserving of a No. 2 seed, defeating Montana, 74-55, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.... 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

Shed Hunters Should Give Wildlife a Break

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is asking shed hunters and other recreationists to give deer and elk their space until the snow melts.... more

Griz Adjust Spring Schedule

By ERIC TABER - Winter conditions and an icy playing surface in Washington-Grizzly Stadium continue to wreak havoc on the Montana Grizzlies' spring practice schedule.... 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

Montana Looks to Extend Streak vs. Montana State

By NIC HALLISEY - With three weeks to play in the regular season, Montana has hit the home stretch and is in a good spot with six games remaining.... more

Griz Use 2 Big Runs to Bounce Bengals

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana closed the first half on an 18-3 run, making 10 consecutive shots at one point, to overcome an early deficit on the road.... more

Pridgett’s big night leads Grizzlies to sweep over Wildcats

By NIC HALLISEY - With the game on the line and under a minute to play, it was Sayeed Pridgett who scored the game-winning basket.... more

A Note From Griz Basketball

Tomorrow we play E Washington in a rematch of last year’s Big Sky Conference championship. THIS GAME IS HUGE and we need YOU to pack Dahlberg.... more

Montana Scraps Out Road Win Over Rival

By NIC HALLISEY-Despite trailing at the half, Montana fought back and fended off the Bobcats on Saturday, winning 83-78 for their 16th rivalry win in the past 17 tries.... more

Olson Named First-Team All American Defense By Hero Sports

By ERIC TABER - Dante Olson has added another trophy to the case. The junior linebacker landed his fourth first-team All-America honor in the past week. ... more

Dickenson Set For Star-Studded Hall of Fame Induction

Head coach and legendary Montana quarterback, Dave Dickenson is officially inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.... more

Griz Rally Falls Short Against Cats

By ERIC TABER - In the biggest game of the year it was a fumble that cost the Griz a chance at victory over Montana State and a chance at the playoffs.... more

Griz Look to Defend Home Turf in 118th Brawl of the Wild

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies enter the biggest rivalry of the year this week – No. 25 Montana State.... more

2018 Brawl of the Wild SOLD OUT

By ERIC TABER - The 118th Brawl of the Wild game between Montana and Montana State is officially SOLD OUT, Grizzly Athletics announced Thursday.  ... more

Montana Picked to Repeat as Big Sky Champions

By NIC HALLISEY - The Grizzlies were picked to repeat as Big Sky Conference champions in 2019, earning a near-unanimous selection.... more

Olson Added to Buchanan Award Watch List

By ERIC TABER - Junior linebacker Dante Olson has been nothing short of superb for the Grizzlies as he's worked his way to becoming the leading tackler in all of Division-I football.... more

Hauck Named to Rice Award Watch List

By NIC HALLISEY - Halfway through his freshman season, Robby Hauck has become the second-leading tackler in the Big Sky after six games.... more

Olson Three-Peats as Big Sky Player of the Week

By ERIC TABER - They say good things come in threes, and for Montana junior linebacker Dante Olson, they sure do.... more

Grizzlies Focused On September, Not March, As They Hit Court

Nic Hallisey - Montana hit the court for its first official practice of 2018-19 on Friday afternoon, and with four starters and more than 80 percent of its statistical leaders returning.... more

Feeling Strong?

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Technology gives us some advantages over wildlife. But when it comes to strength, agility and speed never bet against the animals.... more

Griz Look To Swat Hornets At The Start of Big Sky Play

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies return home this week seeking the program's 200th win inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

#14 Griz Look to Keep MomentUM Hosting Drake

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies are buoyed by momentUM as they head into week two of their challenging 2018 schedule against Drake.... more

#24 Griz host #13 Panthers in Challenging Opener

By ERIC TABER - On Saturday, Hauck will run back onto that field with Griz to begin act-two of his head coaching career at UM as the Griz take on Northern Iowa at 7pm.... more

Tickets Still Available for Home Opener

By ERIC TABER - What could be better than watching football under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on a late summer evening in Missoula?... more

7th Annual Doggie Dash Slated for September 8 at Fort Missoula

By BECKY GOODRICH - Missoula Parks & Recreation invites you and your four-legged friends to the 7th annual Doggie Dash Pet Expo and Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Fort Missoula Regional Park West.... more

Brain Injury Alliance of Montana’s Inaugural Big Sky Chalenge Hike Aug 25th

Don't miss our Inaugural Big Sky Challenge Hike with proceeds benefiting brain injury survivors and caregivers!... more

Dickenson Returns to Celebrate Hall of Fame Induction

For the first time in over a decade, Montana legend Dave Dickenson will return to Missoula for a Grizzly football game when he celebrate his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.... more

Seven Griz Receive Preseason Honors From Phil Steele Magazine

By ERIC TABER - Montana senior linebacker Josh Buss earned yet another preseason All-America accolade, and six other Grizzlies were named to the 2018 Phil Steele FCS Magazine preseason All-Big Sky team... more

Over 140 Players Break in New Fort Missoula Regional Park Pickleball Courts

By BECKY GOODRICH - Over 140 pickleball players, ranging in age from 17 to 84, will compete in Missoula this weekend at the fifth annual Montana Open pickleball tournament.... more

Buss Named Preseason STATS first Team All-American

By ERIC TABER - Preseason accolades for Montana senior linebacker Josh Buss continue to roll in, with STATS Inc. naming him a first team preseason All-American on Tuesday. ... more

Tickets Available Now For Griz Awards Banquet

By ERIC TABER - Tickets are now available for the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame and Grizzly Lifetime Honors Award banquet, slated for Friday evening on Sept. 7 at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown.... more