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 ‘University of Montana’

Griz Football Set to Host Marrow Registry Drive in UC Friday

By ERIC TABER - The Grizzly football team will do its part to help save lives this week by rallying the UM campus community to join the National Marrow Donor Program's Be the Match Registry.... more

Team USA is Coming to Montana, Looking for Olympic Hopefuls

By NIC HALLISEY - The United States Olympic Committee has selected the University of Montana as one of six testing locations and will host a pro day on campus on Monday, April 29.... 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

Historic Season Comes to a Close in NCAA Tournament

By NIC HALLISEY - The Grizzlies never quit, but Michigan showed why it is was deserving of a No. 2 seed, defeating Montana, 74-55, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.... more

Montana, Michigan Paired Up Once Again

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana is headed back to the NCAA tournament, and it will begin Thursday vs. a familiar opponent.... 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

Olson Named First-Team All American Defense By Hero Sports

By ERIC TABER - Dante Olson has added another trophy to the case. The junior linebacker landed his fourth first-team All-America honor in the past week. ... 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

Hauck Named to Rice Award Watch List

By NIC HALLISEY - Halfway through his freshman season, Robby Hauck has become the second-leading tackler in the Big Sky after six games.... more

4 Reasons Why Writing Services Come In Handy

By utilizing a writing service you can lessen your workload and even learn new ways to go about writing your essays, helping you become a better writer.... more

Griz Look To Swat Hornets At The Start of Big Sky Play

By ERIC TABER - The Montana Grizzlies return home this week seeking the program's 200th win inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.... 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

Tickets Still Available for Home Opener

By ERIC TABER - What could be better than watching football under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium on a late summer evening in Missoula?... 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

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

Tickets Available Now For Griz Awards Banquet

By ERIC TABER - Tickets are now available for the Grizzly Sports Hall of Fame and Grizzly Lifetime Honors Award banquet, slated for Friday evening on Sept. 7 at the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtown.... more

Fatkin to Join Lady Griz

By JOEL CARLSON - Ranked as the nation’s 30th-best point guard in her class by ESPN.com, Sammy Fatkin had options.... 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

Lady Griz Fall to Top Seed Bears

In the end it was simple math more than anything else that ended Montana's season on Wednesday afternoon in the quarterfinals of the Big Sky Conference tournament.... more

Lady Griz Take No. 8 Seed to Reno

The Lady Griz will take the No. 8 seed into this year's tournament at Reno and will face No. 9 Sacramento State on Monday at 1 p.m. in a first-round game.... more

Krslovic Carries Montana to 10th Consecutive Win

By NIC HALLISEY - Montana stretched its win streak to double digits on Thursday, knocking off Northern Colorado, 88-79.... more

Bobcats Knock Off Lady Griz 81-64

The Bobcats knocked down 11, 3-pointers and hustled their way a 81-64 victory over the Lady Griz Saturday night in Bozeman.... 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

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

Griz Enter Bye Week With Hot Hand on Offense

By ERIC TABER - After seven straight weeks of action, the Montana football team will take some well-earned rest this Saturday during the bye week.... 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

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

Grizzlies Athletics Providing Several Ways to Engage with Youth

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana athletics department is connecting with the youth in Missoula, announcing on Wednesday several initiatives to engage with young fans.... 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

Registration Open for Griz Basketball Summer Camps

Montana head basketball coach Travis DeCuire has announced the Grizzlies lineup of 2017 boys summer camps. Sign-up now!... more

Bright spots on both sides of the ball at first Griz scrimmage

By ERIC TABER - After nearly a month of practice, the Montana Grizzlies got their first taste of live football in the team's first scrimmage of the spring.... more

Hall Too Much as Cats Rally to Beat Griz

By ERIC TABER-The Montana men's basketball team missed out on a chance to make history, falling to a hot-shooting Montana State Bobcat team 78-69 in Bozeman on Saturday.... 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

Griz Football: Fall Camp Enters Home Stretch

By ERIC TABER - Fresh off a day's rest, the Montana Grizzlies returned to the field inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Monday morning for the 14th practice of fall camp.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 22

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Experience and Versatility Key to Success of a Strong D-line

By ERIC TABER - The 2016 Grizzlies will once again boast one of the nation's best D-lineman in second-year starter, and second-year heir to the #37 throne, Caleb Kidder. ... more

Griz Show All-Around Strength in First Scrimmage

By ERIC TABER - Montana opens the 2016 campaign on Sept. 3 against Saint Francis, under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 15

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Schweyen Named New Lady Griz Coach

By ERIC TABER -In an announcement that lacks any of the surprise of Robin Selvig’s retirement two weeks ago, Shannon Cate-Schweyen has been chosen to take over the league’s flagship program.... more

Griz Open Camp Ranked No. 13

By ERIC TABER - On the eve of the 2016 fall camp opening practice, the Montana Grizzlies will take the field ranked as the No. 13 team in the nation.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Aug 1

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Get Your Football Tickets Early at First-Ever Ticket Pickup Party

By ERIC TABER: Season Ticket Holders: Jump on the fall season at the first-ever Griz football ticket pickup party, from 3-6 p.m. on Aug. 10 at the Adams Center ticket office.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | July 25

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Griz Tabbed as Big Sky Runner-Up

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana Grizzlies have been picked to finish second in the 2016 Big Sky Conference preseason polls by both the media and the league coaches.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | July 18

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Montana Calls Jordan Sullivan Home

By JOEL CARLSON - Sometimes it takes being away from home, a long way from home, for a girl to get some clarity on what’s important in life. And what she needs to do about it.... more