By ERIC TABER
More than 800 wildland firefighters, emergency responders, veterans and their family members will attend the Saturday, Nov. 11, football game for free thanks to local sponsors, Grizzly Athletics and the University of Montana.
The game is the Military Appreciation and Griz Football Senior Day game. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. between UM and the Northern Colorado Bears.
“After Montana’s historic fire season, we wanted to provide an opportunity for firefighters to attend the game with their families,” UM President Sheila Stearns said. “We know they spent many days apart over the long fire season. We chose the Nov. 11 game to share recognition with veterans and emergency responders as well.”
UM worked through local fire organizations to distribute tickets across a wide audience. Contractors, city and rural fire departments and agency employees were invited.
Among the attendees to Saturday’s game will be Missoula smokejumpers, Department of Natural Resources and Conservation fire leadership and seasonal firefighters, U.S. Forest Service firefighters, contractors and representatives from rural fire districts in the Bitterroot, Missoula and Flathead valleys.
Many military and Gold Star families also will attend Saturday’s contest.
“All of these people are deeply committed to service and have made many sacrifices, so we are excited to welcome them to Washington-Grizzly Stadium on game day,” said UM Athletic Director Kent Haslam.