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 Grizzlies’

Griz Celebrate Seniors, Win Third Straight

The second-largest crowd of the year was treated to a fantastic finish as the Grizzlies pulled away for an 82-73 win over Portland State on Saturday.... more

Postgame Fireworks Show Announced For Sept. 16 Black Out

Griz Football is back in Missoula, and fans' next chance to catch Montana inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium is next Saturday, Sept. 16.... 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

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

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

University of Montana Homecoming – September 20-25

The University of Montana Alumni Association today announced the 2021 Homecoming week event lineup that will take place from Sept. 20 to Sept. 25.... more

Griz Return Home to Face Western Illinois

After picking up one of the biggest wins in program history over the Washington Huskies last week – the Grizzlies have fueled the gas tank for the 2021 season.... 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 Adjust 2020 Summer Camp Slate

The Grizzlies will now host two camps for high school-age players in the month of July as well as a pair of youth camps in June... more

Griz Host Southeastern Louisana in Second Round of FCS Playoffs

By ERIC TABER - The FCS Playoffs return to Missoula for the first time since 2015 this week as the sixth-seed Montana hosts Southeastern Louisiana in the second round of the tournament.... more

Griz Rise to No. 5/6 in Weekly Polls

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies continued their march up the national weekly polls on Monday, landing in the top-five for the first time this season.  ... 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 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

Apps That Every Montana Sports Fan Should Have

From NFL to Baseball, here’s our guide to the best apps every sports fan should download:... 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

Hauck’s Coaching Contract Has Incentives for Wins, Grades

Montana football coach Bobby Hauck’s contract has a base salary of $185,000, with incentives for student-athlete grades, graduation rates and wins.... more

Fall Camp Closes With Special Visit from Griz Legend

By ERIC TABER - Former Grizzly running back and six-year NFL veteran Chase Reynolds returned to Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Wednesday to address the team.... more

Griz Open Camp August 6

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies' football season officially gets underway on Sunday, August 6, when the 2017 squad reports for fall camp.... more

Three Griz Get Preseason All-Big Sky Nods

By ERIC TABER - A trio of Montana football standouts have been named to the 2017 preseason All-Big Sky team.... more

Montana Men’s Basketball to Face Some of Nation’s Best at Paradise Jam

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies were officially announced as one of eight teams scheduled to take part in the 2016 Paradise Jam at the University of the Virgin Islands.... more

Fortune Finally Finds Montna in 33-27 OT Victory Over ISU

By JOEL CARLSON - In a finish that can stack up with any of the jaw-droppers from this fall , Montana won 33-27 in overtime Saturday over Idaho State.... more

Griz Return to the Road to Face Bengals

By ERIC TABER-The No. 22 Montana Grizzlies are back on the road this weekend to Pocatello, Idaho to face Idaho State in a must win Big Sky matchup for the Griz.... more

Top-5 Reasons To Be Excited for Griz Basketball

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies men’s basketball season officially gets underway on Nov. 3, with the team’s first and only exhibition game against Div. III powerhouse Whitworth University out of Spokane.... more

Griz Control Own Destiny Against Portland State

By ERIC TABER-The No. 17 Grizzlies sit in control of its own post-season destiny with another key Big Sky matchup against Portland State this Saturday.... more

Griz Hoops Prepares to Defend Title

By ERIC TABER - About a year ago, men’s basketball coaches around the Big Sky Conference looked at the Montana Grizzlies and saw a team with a new coaching staff, and only one returning starter.... more

Griz Open Big Sky Play With NAU on Homecoming

By ERIC TABER- It's Homecoming and the Grizzlies return home on Saturday to take on Northern Arizona in the first BSC matchup of the 2015 season for both teams.... more

Griz Lose at Liberty 31-21

By ERIC TABER- The Montana football team lost 31-21 at Liberty Saturday night in Lynchburg, Va., in a battle of ranked teams and in front of a record crowd.... more

Montana Hits the Road to Face #14 Liberty

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies hit the road for the first time this season, traveling east of the Mississippi River to face the Flames of Liberty University.... 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

Griz Climb FCS Polls to to 8th

By ERIC TABER - On the heels of an up and down opening two weeks, the net result for the Montana Grizzlies is a No. 8 ranking in this week’s STATS FCS poll and FCS coaches’ poll.... more

Cal Poly Stuns Montana on Late Field Goal (PHOTO GALLERY)

By ERIC TABER- It was another nail-biter decided in the game’s final seconds. But this time Griz fans went home feeling empty after watching the game slip through their team’s grasp.... more

Montana Hosts Cal Poly in Non-Conference Action

By ERIC TABER- The Grizzlies will get another shot at redemption of a 2014 loss as Cal Poly visit Washington-Grizzly Stadium for a non-conference game under the lights.... more

#12 Montana Hosts #1 North Dakota State in Season Opener

By ERIC TABER-The Montana Grizzlies host the four-time defending national champion North Dakota State Bison at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Sat., at 1:30 p.m. ... more

Run-and-Gun Grizzlies Ready for New Era

By DILLON TABISH - What’s the potential of this year’s Montana Grizzlies football team? It's easy to trust an answer when it comes from a Rhodes Scholar candidate.... more

Griz Football Schedules Pac-12 and FCS Opponents

The Montana Grizzlies football team will get a crack at some new FCS programs, as well as some of the top teams in the nation, as future schedule details have been announced through 2021.... more

Crittenden and Jones Voted Griz Football Captains

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies have voted, and seniors Derek Crittenden and Jamaal Jones are the 2015 team captains.... more

Griz Picked to Finish Third in 2015 BSC Preseason Poll

The University of Montana Grizzlies have been picked to finish third in 2014 Big Sky Conference preseason polls by both the media and the league coaches the conference announced today.... more

Griz Land Four Players on Preseason All-Conference Teams

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana Grizzlies have landed two offensive players and two defensive players on the Big Sky Conference all-league teams announced today.... more

Defense Dominates Grizzlies’ First Scrimmage of 2015 Spring

By DAVE GUFFEY-The only touchdown of the day was scored by a linebacker, as the Grizzlies’ defense dominated the first scrimmage of spring drills Saturday in UM’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

Montana Makes 15 Three-Pointers in 90-64 Win at Idaho State

By DAVE GUFFEY - The Montana Grizzlies nailed 15 three-pointers on their way to a dominating 90-64 Big Sky Conference victory over Idaho State Saturday evening at ICCU Court in Holt Arena.... more

Frisco Is Great Location For FCS Championship Game

By JIM O'DAY - I was part of a small committee assigned to look into the facilities and communities being considered as the site for the NCAA Division I Football Championship title game starting in 2010. ... more

Griz at Weber State Jan. 8th

By DAVE GUFFEY - The Grizzlies play their first their Big Sky Conference road games of the season, Thurs. Jan. 8, against the preseason and defending league champion Weber State. Tip-off is at 7:05 p.m. ... more

Grizzlies Shoot Season-Low 33 Percent in Loss to San Francisco

Jackson Wagner - The Grizzlies (2-3) still haven't figured out how to defeat San Francisco (4-2). Montana dropped the game 76-57--the third consecutive year the Grizzlies have fallen to USF.... more

Grizzlies Defeat Carroll College 75-52

By DAVE GUFFEY - Junior forward Martin Breunig registered game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 75-52 win over the visiting Carroll College Saints. ... more

Montana Hosts San Diego in FCS Playoff Game Nov. 29

The University of Montana Grizzlies will host the University of San Diego in a first round NCAA FCS Playoff game, Sat., Nov. 29, with kickoff in Washington-Grizzly Stadium at 2:05 p.m.... more

Montana Hosts San Diego in 1st Round FCS Playoff Game Nov. 29

The Grizzlies received an at-large berth in the 2014 NCAA Division I Football Championship, and will host the University of San Diego, Sat., Nov. 29, at 2:00 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... more

This Year’s Griz-Cat Game Just Got More Interesting

By JIM O'DAY - I was recently approached to do some podcasts on topics and issues pertaining to Division I athletics, and particularly, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.... more

Montana 35, at Southern Utah 17

By DAVE GUFFEY-Senior running back Jordan Canada rushed for a career-high 206 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Montana Grizzlies to a crucial 35-15 win over the host Southern Utah Saturday.... more

At Eastern Washington 36, Montana 26

By DAVE GUFFEY-The #11-ranked Montana Grizzlies battled back from a 23-point deficit , but fell short, losing 36-26 to the host and 5th-ranked E. Washington in a pivotal BSC game..... more

Gregory Scores 22 Points as Griz Beat Whitworth 94-79

By DAVE GUFFEY-Senior guard Jordan Gregory scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Montana Grizzlies to a 94-79 victory over Whitworth University in Missoula.... more