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 Athletics’

Griz, Cats Set to Renew Rivalry For 123rd Time

It’s the game that needs no introduction.... more

Montana’s Defeat to UC Davis: A Tactical Breakdown

Montana's football team faced a difficult evening against UC Davis, resulting in a decisive 30-14 loss.... more

Griz Return to Road to Face Cal Poly

The Montana Grizzlies hit the road for a second-straight week with the business end of the regular season in sight, and as the saying goes, “the games they remember are played in November.”... more

Griz keep Shutout Streak Against Bears Alive with 24-0 Win

It's the third straight shutout for Montana over Northern Colorado, as they haven't allowed an offensive score to the Bears in 15 straight quarters of football.... more

Griz Axe ‘Jacks

Happy Homecoming, indeed. The Montana football team put together a big second half for a 31-20 win over Northern Arizona.... more

Historic Offensive Night Leads Montana to First Inferno Win

It took everything that Montana had, and a historic night from the offense, to leave Cheney with a 52-49 win over Eastern Washington.... more

Griz Back at Home Hosting No. 24 Western Carolina

Montana football returns home for a second-straight week as the Grizzlies close out the nonconference schedule against an explosive Western Carolina team out of the Southern Conference.  ... more

North Dakota Uses Ground Game in Comeback Win Over Griz

It was a tale of two halves in Grand Forks, North Dakota on Saturday night as the host Fighting Hawks used a big comeback in the second half to upset Montana 27-24.... more

Griz Head to Grand Forks Looking for Redemption

This week, No. 4 Montana returns to the site of that loss in Grand Forks for the first meeting between the two schools since UM took the 41-14 drubbing.... more

Official Black Out T-Shirt Now Available for Season Opener

After debuting in 2023, Griz football is excited to bring back a Black Out game in 2024, which will be Montana's season opener vs. Missouri State on Aug. 31 (7 p.m. kickoff).... more

Bergen Named to Payton Award Watch List

Griz football standout Junior Bergen has added to his pile of preseason accolades with a place on the 2024 Walter Payton Award Watch List as a wide receiver.... more

Bergen Named to East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000

unior Bergen has added to his preseason accolades haul with a place on the East-West Shrine Bowl 1,000, an annual watchlist of the top NFL prospects.... more

Missoula’s Griz Football Remains at the Top

If you’re a young athlete dreaming of a career in sports, look no further than the Griz for motivation.... more

Griz Set to Once Again Pitch in and Help Save Lives

The Grizzly football team will once again do its part to help save lives by rallying the UM community to join the National Marrow Donor Program's (NMDP) "Get in the Game" registry,... more

Grizzly Football: GSA Spring Tour Returns in 2024

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

NFL Veteran Scott Linehan Joins Grizzly Coaching Staff

Former NFL head coach and 30-plus year coaching veteran Scott Linehan has joined the Montana football coaching staff as an offensive analyst.... more

Maxwell Football Club Names Hauck Winner of 2023 Get in the Game Impact Award

By: Montana Sports Information The Maxwell Football Club, one of the most prestigious football honors organizations in the nation, announced Tuesday that Montana head football coach Bobby Hauck ha... more

Griz Look to Cap Magical Season with a National Championship

Montana's magical postseason run reaches its zenith this week as the new year brings a new opportunity for the Grizzlies.... more

Griz Beat Bison in 2 OT Thriller to Punch Ticket to Frisco

"Monumental win in program history," head coach Bobby Hauck said. "It's one of the biggest games in stadium history, if not the biggest.... more

Eight Grizzlies Named Academic All-District

Eight Griz players were honored for their excellence in the classroom and on the field named Academic All-District on Tuesday.... more

Griz Beat Furman in OT Thriller to Advance to Semis

Friday night's 35-28 overtime win over Furman in the FCS Quarterfinal is the latest addition to the Washington-Grizzly Stadium lore, and Junior Bergen the latest Grizzly hero.... more

Hauck Named the AFCA FCS Region 5 Coach of the Year

After winning his eighth Big Sky Conference championship and becoming the league's all-time winningest coach, Bobby Hauck has been voted Coach of the Year.... more

Griz Blizzard Buries Delaware, Advance to Quarterfinal

Montana felt right at home in a winter storm on Saturday night inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium, blowing out No. 11 Delaware 49-19.... more

A Griz/Cat Game Like No Other

In a game that needs no added superlatives, the magnitude of the 122nd edition of the Montana/Montana State rivalry football game – the Brawl of the Wild – simply cannot be overstated.... more

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

Krystkowiak Enters Big Sky Hall of Fame

Larry Krystkowiak will be inducted into the Big Sky Conference Hall of Fame on Saturday, July 22. He becomes the second male athlete from Montana, joining former quarterback Dave Dickenson, and the first Griz H... 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

Dahlberg Arena Floor to be Named Robin Selvig Court

The banner went up not long after Robin Selvig retired, recognition for 865 wins while coaching the Montana women’s basketball program from 1978-79 to 2015-16. It faces 23 banners on the other side of Dahl... 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

Men’s Basketball: Montana Picked Third in Big Sky Preseason Polls

The Montana men's basketball team, was selected third in both the coaches' and media polls, the Big Sky Conference announced Wednesday.... 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

Griz in at No. 3 in Preseason Media Top-25

After being picked to win the Big Sky Conference title race by the league's coaches and media, the Montana Grizzlies slotted in at No. 3 on the Stats Perform Preseason Top-25 on Monday.... more

Montana’s 2022-23 Big Sky Slate Begins Dec. 29 vs Eastern Washington

The Big Sky Conference announced its 2022-23 men's basketball schedule on Thursday morning.... more

Big Sky Announces 2022-23 Women’s Basketball Schedule

he Big Sky Conference released the league’s women’s basketball schedule for the 2022-23 season on Wednesday morning.... 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

Sundberg Promoted to Deputy Athletics Director

Longtime University of Montana athletic administrator Greg Sundberg has been promoted to deputy athletics director.... 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