Random history question

[dupuyer griz]

In what year did the Griz colors change from the original maroon to the copper and gold? I'm not that old, figure some of you might remember.

 

[Griz90]

The year was 1996. The Griz had just completed it's first-ever National Championship season in 1995 under the tutelage of Head Coach Don Reed and none other than #15 Dave Dickenson at QB with a 22-20 victory over Marshall. The last year of the copper, silver and gold was a National Championship. What a way to go out!

 

[alabamagrizzly]

Might try re-reading the question. 1968.

Maroon & Silver (1893–1967, 1997–present)
Copper & Gold (1968–1996)
The official school colors of the University of Montana are copper, silver, and gold; chosen in recognition of the state's mining history. Contrary to popular perception, these colors have never changed, with the confusion stemming from the university's decision to represent "copper" with either maroon or "Texas orange" at various times in its history.

When the university was founded in 1893 and its colors chosen, a lack of copper dye led the school to use maroon, and occasionally other colors, to represent copper. This had the effect of having the school's athletic teams not always being represented across the board by the same uniform colors. In 1967, head football coach and athletic director Jack Swarthout, who personally preferred the maroon and silver used by the football team, sought to make the schools colors more consistent and held a vote among UM coaches. They selected Texas orange (burnt orange to represent copper) and yellow gold to be used on the school's uniforms and it remained for the next 30 years.

The maroon was brought back in 1993 as part of the university's centennial celebrations and a student survey in 1995 showed support for a return to maroon and silver uniforms. Despite some vocal opposition, by 1997 the colors began to phase into the maroon and silver that continues to be used.[11][12][13]

 

[Kabooom]

Maroon and silver until 1967 .....some gold accent in some years as well.

1968 to 1995 Was the switch to mainly Copper, with some Gold and Silver accents through those years.

1996 to present Maroon and Silver.

Trivial Tidbit. In their first game of the 1996 season with their new Maroon and Silver Uni's, the Griz stepped up so to speak....and went on the road to defeat the Oregon St Beavers by the convincing score of I think...35-14...I happened to be in attendance. Our Hawiian QB was throwing lazer darts, and Joe Douglas got his revenge on his former team. OSU starting D-lineman Tony Huot from Anaconda was called for TWO offsides penalties in that game...Thanks Tone...



I seem to remember drinking some good local IPA's at some fun establishments right off the Willamette River in downtown Corvallis.

 

[Griz!ron]

Yep 1996. I remember that we had a large fee added to our tuition costs that year, partial to pay for athletic costs of some sort. Opponents of the fee bitterly called it the 'Maroon fee'.

 

[BWahlberg]

I remember not liking the Maroon at first (born in 1979 so I grew up to that point only knowing copper and gold).

What's funny was I recall some of the reasons also being that, "it's just easier to wear maroon colors with jeans. Copper just doesn't look right with jeans." That's as ever of a "Montana" reason as I've ever heard, how the color looks when you're wearing jeans.... Haha

 

[Pin2Win]

I remember not liking the Maroon at first (born in 1979 so I grew up to that point only knowing copper and gold).

What's funny was I recall some of the reasons also being that, "it's just easier to wear maroon colors with jeans. Copper just doesn't look right with jeans." That's as ever of a "Montana" reason as I've ever heard, how the color looks when you're wearing jeans.... Haha

For marketing, I think going back to the maroon was one of the smartest decisions UM has ever made. Not just for the reason of jeans, but overall marketability of that color. You can do so many combinations with maroon/black/white/silver, etc. that you can make it an easily sellable color to many different tastes.

As much of an MSU guy as I am, the same can't be said for Blue/Gold. It is hard to pair those colors with black and make an impact. Everything has to be navy/gray/white to get the colors to look right on the clothing. This change really did give UM of severe marketing edge over MSU, especially coming off the tide of winning the national title.

 

[bgbigdog]

I remember not liking the Maroon at first (born in 1979 so I grew up to that point only knowing copper and gold).

What's funny was I recall some of the reasons also being that, "it's just easier to wear maroon colors with jeans. Copper just doesn't look right with jeans." That's as ever of a "Montana" reason as I've ever heard, how the color looks when you're wearing jeans.... Haha

For marketing, I think going back to the maroon was one of the smartest decisions UM has ever made. Not just for the reason of jeans, but overall marketability of that color. You can do so many combinations with maroon/black/white/silver, etc. that you can make it an easily sellable color to many different tastes.

As much of an MSU guy as I am, the same can't be said for Blue/Gold. It is hard to pair those colors with black and make an impact. Everything has to be navy/gray/white to get the colors to look right on the clothing. This change really did give UM of severe marketing edge over MSU, especially coming off the tide of winning the national title.

Tim Gunn @TimGunn · Feb 2 "Major Wow Factor"
ICYMI: "Get ready for a huge night of exciting reveals! I'll answer the burning question of whether the color Copper can be worn with jeans. Hang onto your hats everyone. Don’t miss me on @biggestlosernbc tonight at 8/7c on @NBC! … http://www.whosay.com/l/uIp9YNQ?wsref=tw" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; …

 

[kyle_sample]

I remember being in fourth grade at one of the 95 playoff games and they had already released maroon and silver pom-poms, those really stringy ones that look like medusa hair, and nobody sitting in my section had any idea why

 

[Grizo406]

No one has mentioned it yet, but it's been my astute observation that Carhartt has ALWAYS been a Griz, cold weather color!??!

WTF is up that?