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 football’

Griz Return Home for First-Ever Matchup with Fiery Ferris State

Montana hosts the two-time defending D-II national champion and No. 1 ranked Ferris State Bulldogs this week at WGS. ... more

Help the Griz Set a Season Ticket Record in 2023

With kickoff less than a month away, excitement for the upcoming Montana football season is once again nearing an all-time high as the Grizzlies look to return to the top of the Big Sky standings.... more

Griz Picked Third, Sixth in Preseason Polls

Media members around the league picked Montana to finish third in this year’s title race while coaches picked the Griz to finish sixth, the Big Sky Conference announced in its annual preseason polls.... more

Nonconference Kickoff Times and Broadcast Details Finalized

Kickoff times and broadcast details for Montana's three nonconference games have been finalized, with a September night game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

Welnel Passes No. 37 Tradition to Janacaro

Welnel announced Levi Janacaro, a Missoula native and fellow linebacker, is his choice to be the 17th player in program history to wear No. 37, ... more

GSA Tailgate Moves Inside “The Grizzly Den” For Spring Game

Fans set to attend the annual Grizzly Scholarship Association Spring Football Game on April 7, will now have the chance to experience Washington-Grizzly Stadium's new premium seating zone, The Grizzly Den,... more

GSA Spring Tour Returns in 2023

The Montana Grizzlies are back on the road and headed to a town near you!... more

Tim Hauck Returns to Montana as a Defensive Analyst

Grizzly Sports Hall of Famer, 13-year NFL vet, and Super Bowl-winning coach Tim Hauck has returned to the University of Montana as a defensive analyst.... more

Rohrbach Named FCS Punter of the Year

Montana freshman punter Patrick Rohrbach earned the Football Championship Subdivision's highest special teams honor Wednesday, being named FCS Punter of the Year.... more

Big Plays Haunt Griz in Loss to Bison

Saturday's game ends Montana's season in the second round at 8-5 overall, while the Bison advance to their 13th straight quarterfinal.... more

Griz Advance to set up Blue Blood Battle with Bison

This week Montana travels to Fargo for a titanic battle between FCS blue bloods when the Grizzlies take on the No. 3 and defending national champion North Dakota State Bison.... more

In a Comeback for the Ages, Griz Rally to Beat SEMO

The Montana Grizzlies pulled off one of the most improbable and historic comebacks in program history Saturday night, defeating Southeast Missouri 34-24 in the first round of the FCS playoffs.... more

Montana to Host SEMO Under the Lights in First Round Playoff Game

Montana will extend its FCS record playoff appearances to 26 this Saturday after earning an at-large bid to the 2022 tournament.... more

Rohrbach a Finalist for the Jerry Rice Award

As the current No. 2 punter in FCS football and a catalyst on the best punting unit in the subdivision, Montana freshman Patrick Rohrbach was named a finalist for the 2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Monda... more

Griz Move up in National Rankings at No. 2 in both Polls

After a 3-0 start to the season, the Montana Grizzlies are now the consensus No. 2 team in the nation this week... more

Grizzly defense suffocates Coyotes in 24-7 win

The Montana defense put in yet another commanding performance Saturday, keeping South Dakota scoreless for three and a half quarters of football in a 24-7 rout.... more

Montana Nearing Record Season Ticket Sales as Kickoff Approaches

With Montana picked to win the Big Sky Conference title and receiving a top-two preseason national ranking, excitement for Griz football is high in Missoula.  ... more

Montana Finalizes 2022 Television Schedule

Television details for the remainder of Montana's 2022 football season have been finalized. Here they are:... more

Griz Picked No. 2 in AFCA Preseason Poll

The FCS football coaches around the nation have tabbed the Montana Grizzlies as the No. 2 team in the nation in the (AFCA) preseason top-25 poll. ... more

Three Griz Named to Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List

This year, three more Grizzlies are favored to join that list of the nation's elite defenders, with Patrick O'Connell, Justin Ford, and Robby Hauck each being named to the Buchanan Award preseason watch lis... more

Griz Set Kickoff Times for Home Football Games

Kickoff times for Montana's slate of six home games for the upcoming 2022 football season have been confirmed... more

Four Montana Legends Earn Place in Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame

Grizzly Athletics proudly announced the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame incoming class of 2022, and the recipient of the Grizzly Lifetime Honors Award.... more

Seven Griz Return for Pro Day

Seven former Montana football players will return to Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Tuesday, April 5, for the team's annual Pro Day... more

No. 6 Griz to Face No. 3 Dukes in FCS Quarterfinal

Survive and advance is the mantra in the FCS Playoffs, and the Montana Grizzlies did that and a whole lore more last week, dominating Eastern Washington and advancing to take on James Madison. ... more

Griz Advance to Face James Madison in Virginia

With Friday's win over Eastern Washington, the Montana Grizzlies have advanced to the Quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs and will Play James Madison in Virginia. ... more

Griz Get Redemption on Eagles, Advance to FCS Quarterfinal

Montana improves to 10-2 and advances to the FCS quarterfinal round against No. 3 James Madison. ... more

Griz Host Eagles in Titanic Playoff Rematch

The second season of Montana football kicks off under Friday night lights this week as the Grizzlies ride a five-game winning streak into the second round of the FCS playoffs for a rematch against E. Washington... more

Griz Stars Honored at Annual Awards Banquet

Montana head coach Bobby Hauck and his staff honored some of the Grizzlies' best performers of the year on Sunday at the annual team awards banquet. ... more

#7 Griz Host #3 Cats in Brawl for the Ages

On Saturday, the 120th edition of the Montana/Montana State game returns after a two-year layoff and returns to Missoula for the first time in three years.... more

Griz Axe Jacks With Dominant Defense

Every time you think Montana's defense has put together its best performance of the season, they find a new way to step their game up.... more

Griz Look to Continue Winning Ways on the Road in Greely

With momentum from of two-straight wins, the Montana Grizzlies return to the road, to battle Northern Colorado Saturday with kickoff in Greeley set for noon.... more

Griz Roll Over Vandals to Retain Stein

Montana retained the "Little Brown Stein" with a statement win, rebounding with a 34-14 rout of rival Idaho. ... more

Montana Grizzlies NCAAF News: Showdown vs. Vandals, FCS Rankings, More

Montana Tries To Bounce Back vs. Idaho this week in Moscow. ... more

2001 Griz Closing in on Goal as Team Reunion Nears

When the 2001 Montana Grizzlies set out to achieve a goal, there's no stopping them. ... more

Griz Look to Avenge 2019 Loss to Hornets at Home

At the halfway point of the season, the Griz enter Saturday's game against the Hornets ranked in the top-five nationally with one of the best defenses in the FCS.... more

Montana Improves to No. 4 in Media Poll, Named FCS Team of the Week

After one of the biggest upsets in college football history, Montana has been named the Stats Perform FCS National Team of the Week.... more

ESPN+ to Carry Nine Griz Games This Fall, With Streaming Options for Entire Season

Nine of Montana's 11 regular season football games will now be available to watch nationwide via live stream on ESPN+.... more

Griz Picked No. 9 in Coaches’ Preseason Poll

Football coaches around the FCS have picked Montana to finish No. 9 in the AFCA FCS Coaches' Preseason Top 25 poll.... more

2001 National Champion Griz to Reunite for a Good Cause

Led by former head coach Joe Glenn, the 2001 Griz are set to make their triumphant return to Missoula for a team reunion on Oct. 15 and an on-field celebration.... more

Griz in at No. 9 in Preseason Media Poll

The Montana Grizzlies slotted in at No. 9 in the preseason edition of the Stats Perform FCS media top-25... more

Kickoff Times for the 2021 Griz Football Season Announced

The Montana Grizzlies will play their home opener against Western Illinois under the lights of Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

Five Griz Named to Preseason All-Big Sky Team

The Montana Grizzlies landed five players on the 30-man Big Sky Preseason All-Conference Team, the league announced Monday.... more

Lewis to Carry on the #37 Tradition

Montana senior linebacker Jace Lewis of Townsend has been named the next Grizzly to carry on the #37 legacy jersey tradition.... more

Hauck Named Academic All-American

Montana junior safety Robby Hauck was the only player from the Big Sky Conference named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team.... more

Griz Picked No. 11 in Athlon Preseason Poll

In one of the year's first preseason polls, Montana is slotted in at No. 11 in the Athlon Sports Preseason FCS Top-25.... more

Ground Game, Defense, Lead Griz to Win Over Portland State

Montana closed its abbreviated spring season with a 48-7 win over Portland State.... more

Griz Host Portland State to Cap Spring Season

And just like that, the Montana Grizzlies' spring season enters the home stretch as UM prepares to take on Portland State in its second and final game of April.... more

Montana Athletics Rolls Out Spring Football Ticket Process

Roughly 5,000 fans will get the chance to watch the Montana Grizzlies take on Central Washington and Portland State live and in-person at Washington-Grizzly Stadium this spring... more

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