College Sports Established
1893
Location
Missoula, Montana
College Name
University of Montana
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1897 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1963 – Present / Big Sky Conference
1962 / Independent
1951 - 1961 / Mountain States Conference
1950 / Independent
1924 - 1949 / Pacific Coast Conference
1897 - 1923 / Independent
Nickname
Grizzlies - The Montana Grizzlies are one of the most beloved college teams in the NCAA. As a proud fan, you may have wondered where their nickname originated and its origins. Well, wonder no more!
The name “Grizzlies” has been associated with Montana since 1872 when Captain William Clark first used it to describe some of the giant brown bears he saw while exploring near present-day Missoula. The term stuck and became popular among local settlers, who often referred to them as “Griz” or grizzly bears.
In 1895, when the University of Montana opened its doors to students, it adopted the Grizzly Bear as its mascot due to its association with strength and power – qualities that were important for any successful university at that period. From then on out, all athletic teams representing UM proudly carried this moniker until 1972 when fans and school administration officially adopted " Montana Grizzlies " - making it official!
Since then, thousands of passionate supporters have come together wearing maroon & silver colors yearly while cheering on their beloved team, knowing why they chose such an iconic name like "Grizzlies." So next time you're watching a game or talking about your favorite team, share these facts so everyone can appreciate how much history is behind this amazing school's unique identity!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1947
- 1986
- 1995
- 2010
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Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball team wins the Rocky Mountain Conference championship
In 1947, the Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball team won the Rocky Mountain Conference championship. This was the first conference championship for the basketball program, which had been established in 1901. The team went on to participate in the National Invitational Tournament (NIT), where they were eliminated in the first round. The championship helped establish the Montana Grizzlies as a competitive ... -
Montana Grizzlies football team wins the NCAA Division I-AA national championship
In 1986, the Montana Grizzlies football team won the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) national championship. The team, led by head coach Don Read, had a record of 12-3 on the season and defeated the Furman Paladins 22-20 in the championship game. This was the first national championship for the Montana Grizzlies football program. The team had standout players such ... -
Dave Dickenson – Walter Payton Award Winner
Dave Dickenson is one of the most notable players in the history of the Montana Grizzlies football program. He played quarterback for the team from 1992 to 1995 and led them to an appearance in the NCAA Division I-AA championship game in 1995, where they lost to Marshall. During his time with the Grizzlies, Dickenson set numerous school and conference ... -
The Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball team wins the Big Sky Conference championship
In the 2009-2010 season, the Montana Grizzlies men’s basketball team won the Big Sky Conference regular-season championship with a record of 22-9 overall and 12-4 in conference play. They went on to win the Big Sky Conference tournament and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament. In the first round, they faced off against the New Mexico Lobos but lost ...
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History of the Grizzlies
Off the field, Montana has had some great success as well by producing several NFL players over its 57-year history, including Pro Bowlers Marc Mariani and Kroy Biermann, along with Super Bowl champion Colin Kaepernick. In addition to these accomplishments on both sides of the ball, numerous awards have been won by individual members, such as All-Americans Jerry Kramer (1959), Dave Dickenson (1995), Jordan Johnson (2015), and Brady Gustafson (2017).
On top of basketball, courtside things haven’t been quite so rosy for The Griz but still respectable, nonetheless having reached two post-season tournaments since joining D1 back in 1997, losing out on both occasions though - 2002 NIT tournament & 2012 CBI tourney, respectively. Despite this lackluster record, it hasn't stopped them from winning four regular season championships within their respective conferences during this period, making them one formidable opponent regardless!
While not consistently achieving major successes like other more prominent schools around America, you cannot deny that the Montana Grizzlies team is full of passionate fans who love nothing more than cheering on their beloved Grizzlies no matter what outcome comes after each game day! So if you're looking for an underdog story or want to be part of something special, look no further than 'Montana' where true grit meets glory every single time!
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