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 ‘UM basketball’

Big Sky Conference to Re-Air Several Griz Basketball Games This Week on Pluto TV

Montana fans can get their basketball fix this week, with the Big Sky Conference announcing it will re-air 15 recent basketball games on Pluto TV (channel 530).... 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

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

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

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

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

Graduation Weekened Means Diploma and Pro Contract For Krslovic

By NIC HALLISEY - When Fabijan Krslovic traveled 8,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean in the summer of 2014, he wasn't quite sure what to expect.... more

Grizzlies Thump Bocats & Clinch Share of Big Sky Title

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana got back to its winning ways in dominant fashion on Saturday night, knocking off rival Montana State, 90-63.... more

Montana Falls at Washington in Heartbreaker

By NICK HALLISEY - Montana had opportunities to earn its second signature win of the season but came up just short on Friday evening, falling to the Washington Huskies, 66-63.... more

Breunig Named Griz MVP for Second-Straight Year

By ERIC TABER -For the second-straight year Martin Breunig has been named the recipient of the Carl E. Dragstedt Award for Grizzly basketball’s most valuable player.... more

Montana Runs Deep for Montgomery

By ERIC TABER - Former Montana head basketball Coach Mike Montgomery earns a position as one of the all-time greats with induction into the National Basketball Hall of fame.... more

Hornets Rally to Defeat Griz

By ERIC TABER - After a rock solid first half by the Grizzlies, Sacramento State erased a 20-point lead in the second, defeating UM 83-79 in California.... more

Griz Win 11th Straight Brawl of the Wild

By ERIC TABER - Walter Wright and Michael Oguine combined for 45 points leading the Grizzlies to an 80-72 come-from-behind victory over the Bobcats on Saturday.... more

Griz Face Cats on Saturday

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies make the three-hour trip to Bozeman on Saturday seeking their 11th win in a row over the cross-state rivals Montana State Bobcats.... more

Griz Shoot Hot to Defeat Eagles 74-69

By ERIC TABER - The Griz enacted revenge on the Eagles from last year’s loss with a fiery 74-69 victory in Dahlberg Arena on Saturday.... more

Vandals Snap Grizzlies’ Win Streak

By ERIC TABER - A second half comeback was not enough to overcome a cold shooting performance by UM, as Idaho snapped Montana's seven-game win streak with a 63-58 victory in Missoula.... more

Griz Set to Host Old Foes Idaho and E. Washington

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies look to remain perfect on home soil this season, when the Idaho Vandals and Eastern Washington Eagles come to town on Thurs. and Sat.... more

Griz Finish Strong at UND to Remain Undefeated in Big Sky

By ERIC TABER - Montana went on a 10-0 run during the final three minutes of UM’s 65-61 win over North Dakota in Grand Forks, to keep the Grizzlies at a perfect 6-0 in Conference play.... more

Griz Grind Out 73-66 Win at Northern Colorado

By ERIC TABER - Though Montana led the game from whistle to whistle, it took a Michael Oguine three-pointer in the final minutes to win 73-66 over Northern Colorado in Big Sky play.... more

Griz Seek to Remain Perfect in League on Difficult Road Trip

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies embark on its second Big Sky road trip of the season to play against Northern Colorado and North Dakota State.... more

Griz Remain Undefeated at Home with 77-58 Win Over Hornets

By ERIC TABER - (PHOTO GALLERY) The Montana Grizzlies moved to 7-0 at home, and 4-0 in Big Sky Conference play with a high flying 77-58 victory over the visiting Sacramento State Hornets. ... more

Shooting Hand Remains Hot for Griz in 79-66 Win over Portland State

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies moved to 3-0 in Big Sky Conference play with a lights out shooting performance and stifling second half defense, leading to a 79-66 win over PSU.... more

Griz Road Sweep Sign of Good Things to Come

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies get set to host their first Big Sky Conference home games of the season this coming Thurs. and Sat. against Portland State and Sac State.... more

Griz Thump Thunderbirds to Pick Up Road Sweep

By ERIC TABER - Montana picked up the sweep of its first BSC road trip of the season on Saturday, defeating Southern Utah 83-66 to follow up on its 90-84, 2OT win at NAU on New Years Eve.... more

UM Defeats NAU in Double OT Thriller With Three Point Barrage

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzlies made 18 three-point shots to break a school record, in a dramatic, come from behind, 90-84 double-overtime victory over NAU in Flagstaff.... more

Griz and Lumberjacks Open League Play Today at Noon

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies (5-6) and Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (2-9) are set to renew a budding Big Sky Conference rivalry today at Noon.... more

Breunig Earns Big Sky Preseason Nod

By ERIC TABER - Montana men’s basketball standout Martin Breunig has been named to the Big Sky Conference preseason All-Conference team following a breakout 2014-15 season.... more

Lady Griz Picked Second in Preseason Poll

Montana coach Robin Selvig, entering his 36th season with the Lady Griz, predicts that the 2013-14 season is going to be a dog fight, but he has no idea what teams will be near the top.... more

Griz Tabbed 2nd/3rd in 2013-14 Pre-Season Polls

The UM basketball team has been picked to finish second by the media and third by the league coaches in the 2013-14 Big Sky Conference pre-season polls released today by the conference office.... more

Griz Grit: So Long Seniors

By MICK HOLIEN. The time approaches to bid adieu to four seniors who, as Big Sky tournament play begins, had profound effects on Grizzly basketball.... more

Griz Grit: An Ode to Mr. O (Bob O’Conner)

By MICK HOLIEN. I was extremely saddened when I received word while on the road last week of the passing of iconic University of Montana Griz supporter Bob O’Conner.... more

Griz Grit: Griz Basketball Will Leave Lasting Impression

By MICK HOLIEN. What awesome possibilities await one of the most exciting UM men's basketball teams in quite some time. ... more

Griz Grit: Tinkle and Krystowiack

By MICK HOLIEN. Following a legend once is difficult enough, but to do it twice as both an athlete and a coach and with equal success is almost unimaginable.... more

Griz Grit: The Changing Landscape of Collegiate Athletics

By MICK HOLIEN. What happened on the basketball floor recently in Cincinnati was one of the ugliest scenes I have ever seen in sports.... more

Lady Griz Basketball is in the Air!

By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON - This time of year I always get this familiar feeling in my gut. Crisp mornings, followed by late afternoon warm sun, early sunsets, and... the gym!... more