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 ‘Montana Football’

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

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 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

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

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

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

#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

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

Griz Legend Brent Pease Returns to UM Coaching Staff

By ERIC TABER - Head Coach Bobby Hauck welcomes back Griz legend Brent Pease to his staff to serve as the assistant head coach and receivers coach.... more

Dickenson to be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame

By ERIC TABER - On Monday, the National Football Foundation announced that Dickenson will be immortalized as one of the greatest college football players of all time.... more

Hauck Returns as Grizzly Mentor

By ERIC TABER - Director of Athletics Kent Haslam has named former Grizzly head coach Bobby Hauck as the 37th head football coach at the University of Montana.... more

Griz Bury Bears

By ERIC TABER - The playoff push continued for Montana on Saturday against Northern Colorado as the Griz coasted to an easy 44-14 victory.... more

Wildland Firefighters, Vets Gifted with Griz Football Game

By ERIC TABER - UM Athletics and sponsors honor more than 800 wildland firefighters, emergency responders, veterans and their family members at this Saturday's game.... more

Offense Rolls in Season-Opening Victory

By ERIC TABER - Montana rolled to a 45-23 victory over Valparaiso to open the 2017 football season.... more

Great Griz Encounter Set For Aug. 24

By ERIC TABER - The 22nd "Great Griz Encounter"meet-and-greet with the 2017 UM football players and coaches will take place in Caras Park on Thursday, August 24.... more

Montana-Washington Tickets on Sale Starting May 1

By ERIC TABER - Single-game tickets for the University of Montana's 2017 football game at the University of Washington are set to go on sale next week.... more

Montana To Play Home-And-Home Series With South Dakota

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies have agreed to a future home-and-home football series with the South Dakota Coyotes of the Missouri Valley Football Conference beginning in 2019 and concluding in 2022.... more

Griz Running Backs Set to Play Key Role in 2016

By ERIC TABER - Upon first glance of the Montana Grizzlies' pass-happy offense under head coach Bob Stitt, it might be easy for fans to forget about the running backs.... more

New Griz Vision Set for Washington-Grizzly Stadium

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana released the design of the new video display system which will transform the game day experience at Washington-Grizzly Stadium with HD-quality video.... more

Griz Top FCS in Attendance for Second-Straight Season

By ERIC TABER - For the second-straight season the Montana has packed in more fans than any other program in FCS football, and in 2015 dew more fans than 44 FBS programs as well.... more

Two More Griz Get NFL Opportunities

By ERIC TABER - Montana’s all-time leading receiver Jamaal Jones will get his chance to prove himself at the next level, as will former Griz linebacker Herbert Gamboa.... more

Jacksonville Jaguars Take Montana’s Holmes in NFL Draft

Tyrone Holmes was selected in the sixth round as the 181st overall pick in the NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He joins former Grizzly Jordan Tripp who is currently on the roster as a linebacker.... more

Offense Gets Rolling in Second Griz Scrimage

By ERIC TABER-The UM corps of running backs blew up for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Griz football squad’s second scrimmage of the 2016 spring season on Saturday. ... more

Griz Football Team Finalizes 2016 Schedule

By ERIC TABER - Two FCS teams from east of the Mississippi will travel to Missoula in 2016, as the Montana Grizzlies have finalized next season’s football schedule.... more

Holmes Named Defensive Player of the Year

By ERIC TABER - Tyrone Holmes was named the best defensive player in all of FCS football.... more

Tyrone Homes Set For National Awards Banquet

By ERIC TABER-Montana All-American defensive end Tyrone Holmes will travel to Frisco, Texas on Friday for the presentation of the STATS FCS National Defensive Player of the Year award.... more

Montana Standouts Holmes & Jones Named First Team All-American

By ERIC TABER - After completing two of the best individual seasons in Montana history, Jamaal Jones and Tyrone Holmes have been named STATS FCS first team All-Americans.... more

Jones Named Montana’s All-Time Leading Receiver

By ERIC TABER - (PHOTO GALLERY) Jamaal Jones earns place in Montana Football history books after all.... more

Crittenden Set For “Academic Heisman” Ceremony

Montana defensive end and Rhodes Scholarship finalist Derek Crittenden is one of 12 finalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Read more about the Press Conference/Award.... more

Big Plays Doom Montana in 35-16 Loss at Portland State

By JOEL CARLSON-Three first-quarter interceptions and a steady game-long downpour held Montana in check as the Vikings rolled to a 35-16 victory over the Grizzlies Saturday afternoon.... more

Crittenden a Finalist for College Football’s Premiere Scholar-Athlete Award

By ERIC TABER - Montana football team captain Derek Crittenden has been announced as one of 12 finalists for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy.... more

Simis Earns Accolades, Griz Move Up After UND Win

By ERIC TABER - When you tie the Montana school record for touchdown passes in a single game, in your first college football start, people sit up and take notice.... more

Simis Shines in Montana Victory Over North Dakota

By ERIC TABER (PHOTO GALLERY) (PHOTO GALLERY) Making his first career start as a Grizzly, Makena Simis tied the UM school record for touchdown passes in a game leading Montana to a 42-16 victory over North Dako... more

Montana Hosts North Dakota in Key Big Sky Matchup

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies take on the University of North Dakota on Saturday at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. Kickoff is at 1:30pm.... more

Griz Fall to Wildcats in Overtime

By ERIC TABER (PHOTO GALLERY) Montana takes its first Big Sky Conference loss on the season, moving to 2-1 in league play and 3-3 overall, heading into a bye week.... more

Griz Return Home to Face Weber State

By ERIC TABER- Tickets still remain for the Griz vs Weber State game, this Saturday, Oct. 10. Kick-off is at 2PM.... more

Montana Moves to 2-0 in Big Sky with 27-13 Road Win over UC Davis

By ERIC TABER- Montana's Chad Chalich threw three touchdown passes, and the defense forced four turnovers in a 27-13 victory Saturday afternoon at Davis, Calif.... more

Griz Look to Build Momentum at Davis

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies ride a wave of momentum after a Homecoming win against NAU and take on dangerous UC Davis at 2:10 on Saturday.... more

Holmes Hauls in the Accolades After Huge Weekend

By ERIC TABER - Montana senior defensive end Tyrone Holmes has been selected as the STATS FCS national Defensive player of the Week, as well as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week.... more

Griz Start Fast, Hold Off Lumberjacks in Big Sky Opener (PHOTO GALLERY)

By ERIC TABER-Montana rode a dominant defensive effort and a balanced offense to a 23-14 victory over Northern Arizona on Homecoming at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

Griz Lead the FCS with Eight NFL Players

By ERIC TABER - The 2015 NFL season officially gets underway this week and after the last round of cuts, the Montana Grizzlies have become the best represented FCS team in the league.... more

“I Love the Grizzlies and I Couldn’t Be Happier With My Decision”

By ERIC TABER - “I love the Montana Grizzlies, and I couldn’t be happier with my decision,” said Pflug’s voice, seemingly out of nowhere over the ESPN broadcast.... more

FEATURE: The Wideouts: Ben Roberts

By ERIC TABER - Last Saturday, Ben Roberts had the biggest reception of the biggest game in recent memory for the Montana Grizzlies.... more

Ellis Henderson is back… and couldn’t be happier

By ERIC TABER - Ellis is Ellis again. And the time off didn't seem to bother the redshirt.... more