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What's your story?

I was about 6 when I watched my first Griz game I didn't know what was going on but I saw the jerseys and I thought they were cool so i rooted for them and it turns out that most of my family were griz fans and they didn't tell me when I was about 8 so I picked the right team by accident. :thumb:
 
Moved to Montana a few years before attending my first Cat/Griz in Bozeman during the 2001 season. I was young and didn't know the backstory, but loved the Griz colors and vibe. Relocated to Bozeman a few years later where I still reside, attended highschool, and didn't stop bleeding maroon for any series of criticisms that attempted to pin residence with allegiance (when you know, you know). So my reasons might be shallow, but I was the first Grizzly in my family, not a Grizzly because of my family.

Favorite memory: App St. and the 2009 season eclipsed by a frigid goal-line stand on ESPN. It pains me to say I've been to very few games in Missoula, but I forced family to this one, and it repayed me by becoming a major highlight in my life. I hope this program just keeps giving, it's so special.
 
Love the thread, and the stories. We’re bandwagon fans … for going on twenty years. :D

My wife and I enjoyed watching football for a loooong time, but generally more the NFL. We were not huge collegiate football fans -- understandable, with degrees from gridiron doormats San Jose State and New Mexico State. We have family in the state of Alabama, so we leaned towards Bama and Auburn, but without much “fan”aticism. Also, BITD, I rooted for Nebraska because I admired Tom Osborne.

Then, in 1993 or 1994, my wife's brother and his wife landed jobs at UM -- instructor, and department chair in another department. They, and then we, discovered 1-AA football, where they had real "student-athletes." (I tutored football players at 'Bama, and they were students ... but even way back then -- 1972 -- they were not "ordinary" students -- I'll say no more.)

So we bought season tickets and started driving up for Griz games from here in Idaho Falls. I can’t recall if we already had our season tickets, but in 1994 UM squeaked by UNI and McNeese (3 points and then 2) in playoff games at Missoula, before losing at Youngstown in the semi-finals. We were pretty well hooked at that point.

The following year, we were on the charter to Charleston, WV for the finals against Marshall. As we recall, Ruby (of Ruby’s) was on the same plane -- which was a hoot. Those of us there like to take some credit -- lots of noise from the stands -- for the safety that ended up being the margin of difference. Of course, the real story is that “Super Dave” willed the Griz to score on that last drive. We have some great memories of that trip.

Unfortunately, we also went the following year when Randy “Marijuana” Moss proved to be “a man among boys” and he and Marshal killed the Griz in the NC game. We later followed the Griz to Chattanooga a couple times. Encroaching age has since forced us to give up the long drive (and season tickets), but we’ve been with UM football ever since -- recording every game we can find on our DirecTV link.
 
I grew up in Helena, basically halfway between the Cats and the Griz. Having no familial ties to either school, I was not indoctrinated to either team growing up. Also, my family hunted a lot and I played hockey as a kid. Thus watching Griz games didn't really happen for a large part of life. However, I was fortunate enough to grow up during the Griz's great run in the 90's and early 2000's. I remember watching a Griz semi final game from a bar in Great Falls while traveling for a hockey tournament. At that point, I was decidedly a Griz fan. (Plus the 10 year old me decided that because my high school mascot was a bear, it only made sense the college team I rooted for was a bear too).

I have to say that the moment I cherish most about being a Griz fan, and the one that truly makes me appreciate it the most, was my first Griz game 3 years ago. There is nothing like Griz Nation. Having only been to high school and Carroll games, the energy, noise, and enthusiasm that WaGriz has blew me away.

I now go to the law school here and am so proud to be a (real) part of Griz Nation!
 
My story? Not much to my story, typical bandwagon fan influenced by my relationship of a lifelong Griz fan.

Speaking of lifelong Griz fans.....and stories........my buddy Ricky Chapel is an INTERESTING STORY:




 
Senors,

My family moved from Sonora to Yakima for apple and cherry harvest when i was poquito. I worked many hard and learned basket ball and got an offer for free education from many schools including the U of M. At the time, basketball ruled at U of M, and I accepted offer of playing many years.

Many happiness for the football team, as at the time, nobody liked them.
 
Born a Griz fan in Helena and lived there until I began attending UM in 2007 and have been here since. My dad was only able to take myself and my two younger brothers to 1-2 home games each year, but usually any playoff games, so I had those dates circled on the calendar for months. My first game was the original South Dakota St come back in 1993; as a 5 year old I remember it was exciting and hot as hell. Been on the bandwagon hard ever since and wouldn't want to spend my fall Saturdays any other way than kicking leaves as I walk across the Oval, being just another speck in the tide of maroon flooding towards that perfect little stadium nestled at the foot of Mt. Sentinel.
 
Watched my first game on TV in 89 against gsu, first game at Washington griz in 94...enrolled in 95. Fanatic all the while....still am.


Great thread...fun read.
 
Moved to Zoola from Red Lodge in 1985 and Don Read and Dave D got me hooked
Wife and I are diehard NEZ fans for last 15 years or so. Now always in Sun Diego with family for Turkey day and Griz-scat game. McGregors is fun place to hang and watch the game.

Got a slingbox several years ago so I could record Griz games on VHS tape recorder and watch the games on bootlegged WiFi on trip to Australia. Way too addicted which why I hang out on egriz.
 
Born and raised in western mt, went to my first Griz game in the 60's at Dornblazer, end of story. I was hooked forever.
 
I applied to both U of M and MSU. It came down to a coin toss in 1979. Heads-Missoula, tails-Bozeman. Haven't missed watching a Cat-Griz game since 1980. It wouldn't be nearly as much fun being one without the other being around. My wife is a Bobcat from Bozeman no less, and I hope like hell I am the happy one after the game!

Still glad that coin toss came up heads!
 
Grew up in Florida. My father was the trainer for the Gators during the Spurrier years (as a player, not a coach) and I used to sell sodas at Gator games. I grew up wanting to be a Gator, but realized around 15 I would never be big/fast/strong enough to play on that stage. If you couldn't pay at that level, what was the point? This was the Erk Russell years and lots of solid players were going to Ga. Southern, but whoever heard of them? Seriously, I thought they were a junior college. Went to school at Wake Forest and pretty much gave up on college football. Came to UM in 1993 for law school, principally because I wanted to play rugby for the Maggots. I did not pay much attention to the football at first.
That changed on winning the '95 championship- the city of Missoula just erupted. I had never witnessed so much energy, even as a kid in the swamp. Starting reading/ following the team and really liked the home that kids that just want to play ball. I liked that there were many local and generational players. Been a huge fan ever since. Don't even follow the Gators or FBS much anymore. The smaller (div. 2, NAIA) is more interesting to me. Normal kids, most of whom will never play NFL.
My wife (who transferred from App. State) graduated from UM. My daughter is a die hard Griz and we go to most basketball and volleyball games. My old man was with me for the App State playoff game a few years ago and said it was one of the coolest experiences. My father in law is a big Griz fan now too.
My 11 year old son, however, is a Cat for reasons we cannot discern. We think he may have suffered a brain injury.
 
GrizJD said:
Grew up in Florida. My father was the trainer for the Gators during the Spurrier years (as a player, not a coach) and I used to sell sodas at Gator games. I grew up wanting to be a Gator, but realized around 15 I would never be big/fast/strong enough to play on that stage. If you couldn't pay at that level, what was the point? This was the Erk Russell years and lots of solid players were going to Ga. Southern, but whoever heard of them? Seriously, I thought they were a junior college. Went to school at Wake Forest and pretty much gave up on college football. Came to UM in 1993 for law school, principally because I wanted to play rugby for the Maggots. I did not pay much attention to the football at first.
That changed on winning the '95 championship- the city of Missoula just erupted. I had never witnessed so much energy, even as a kid in the swamp. Starting reading/ following the team and really liked the home that kids that just want to play ball. I liked that there were many local and generational players. Been a huge fan ever since. Don't even follow the Gators or FBS much anymore. The smaller (div. 2, NAIA) is more interesting to me. Normal kids, most of whom will never play NFL.
My wife (who transferred from App. State) graduated from UM. My daughter is a die hard Griz and we go to most basketball and volleyball games. My old man was with me for the App State playoff game a few years ago and said it was one of the coolest experiences. My father in law is a big Griz fan now too.
My 11 year old son, however, is a Cat for reasons we cannot discern. We think he may have suffered a brain injury.
Click to expand...

All of these posts are good and interesting, but yours was particularly interesting, and gave me a chuckle.
 
GrizJD said:
Grew up in Florida. My father was the trainer for the Gators during the Spurrier years (as a player, not a coach) and I used to sell sodas at Gator games. I grew up wanting to be a Gator, but realized around 15 I would never be big/fast/strong enough to play on that stage. If you couldn't pay at that level, what was the point? This was the Erk Russell years and lots of solid players were going to Ga. Southern, but whoever heard of them? Seriously, I thought they were a junior college. Went to school at Wake Forest and pretty much gave up on college football. Came to UM in 1993 for law school, principally because I wanted to play rugby for the Maggots. I did not pay much attention to the football at first.
That changed on winning the '95 championship- the city of Missoula just erupted. I had never witnessed so much energy, even as a kid in the swamp. Starting reading/ following the team and really liked the home that kids that just want to play ball. I liked that there were many local and generational players. Been a huge fan ever since. Don't even follow the Gators or FBS much anymore. The smaller (div. 2, NAIA) is more interesting to me. Normal kids, most of whom will never play NFL.
My wife (who transferred from App. State) graduated from UM. My daughter is a die hard Griz and we go to most basketball and volleyball games. My old man was with me for the App State playoff game a few years ago and said it was one of the coolest experiences. My father in law is a big Griz fan now too.
My 11 year old son, however, is a Cat for reasons we cannot discern. We think he may have suffered a brain injury.
Click to expand...

Great perspective from someone was experienced SEC football. As for your son, I think they all have some brain problems. :thumb: :lol:
 
As far as I know not one cat fan tried to ruin this neat and fun post.

I am sure the cats are embarrassed and afraid to admit the dismal year end they have had!

We are about to finish em off................!
 
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