Brawl of the Wild

We at DM love our ‘Cats and our Griz! Whether we tailgate and go the game in person, or gather with friends to catch it on TV, few events bring the state together like a good ol’ fashioned ‘Cat/Griz matchup. On the eve of the 112th meeting of these two great rivals, we thought it would be fun to share some trivia from the past. Enjoy and Go ‘Cats and Go Griz! 

Special thanks to: 

Renee Valley, UM Sports Services

Bill Lamberty, Assistant Athletic Director of Media Relations

Go Aggies! 

Go Mountain Lions!

An Aggie/Lion rivalry doesn’t have the same ring, does it? 

In 1897, the University of Montana (then called Montana State University!) were called the Mountain Lions. At that time, the current Montana State was called Montana State A&M, and like many other A&M schools in the country were known as the Aggies. Montana State A&M became Montana State College around the turn of the century.

The Missoula team became the Bruins in 1911, and finally the Grizzlies in 1912. In Bozeman, the Aggies became the Bobcats in 1919. It wasn’t until 1965 that Montana State University became the University of Montana, and Montana State College became Montana State University! 

Brawl Game Attendance

1901     2,000 

1929     7,000

1946   10,000

1967   10,000

1987   17,000

2011   20,000

The Copper Bowl

From 1926 - 1952, all ‘Cat/Griz games were played in Butte!

Largest win

Montana 79, MSU 0 (1904)

Longest win streak

 Montana 16 (1986 - 2001)  

Years when no game was played  10

1911 season canceled  after death of MSU player Charles Lange in a game against Utah which MSU lost 97-0

Bobcat Margin of Victory 38 points  1899, 1902, 1966  

Weather History

Warmest Temperature  67° 1989  

Average Temperature  29° 

Coldest Morning Temperature  -5° in 2000 

Coldest Gametime Temperature  2° in 1978 

Coldest Max Temperature  15° in 1977 

Greatest Precipitation  .61”  1979 

Most Snowfall  5”  1979 

Greatest Snowfall on the Ground
At Gametime   8” 1959

National  Championships

Grizzlies  2 of 7 appearances  1995 & 2001

Bobcats  3 of 3 appearances 1956, 1976 & 1984

In a 0-0 tie vs. St. Joseph’s, Ind., at 1956’s Aluminum Bowl, MSU was awarded co-national championship, and are considered national champs because they were the NAIA’s only unbeaten team that year.

On the Field

Longest Scoring Play

Grizzlies  1974  94 Yards

Longest Field Goal

Bobcats  1965  59 Yards

Longest Rushing Score

Grizzlies  1974 79 Yards

Longest Punt Return for a Score

Bobcats  1965  80 Yards

Longest Interception Score

Grizzlies  1932  92 Yards

Longest Score on Fumble

Bobcats  1941  60 Yards

Over 80 TV satellite parties are held around the country where alumni from both Montana State University and the University of Montana gather to watch the greatest athletic rivalry in the state and one of the longest running rivalries in the nation. Each party is held at a site which can access the game via DirectTV or satellite and is hosted by an alumni volunteer.

Here are some of the states that have parties. Go to www.alumni.montana.edu/events/catgriz/ for more information about hosts and locations.

ALASKA , ARIZONA, ARKANSAS, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, 

FLORIDA , GEORGIA, GERMANY, HAWAII, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA 

JAPAN, KANSAS, LOUISIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA 

MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW MEXICO 

NEW YORK, NORTH CAROLINA, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OKLAHOMA, OREGON 

PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, TEXAS,

UTAH, VERMONT, WASHINGTON, WASHINGTON, D.C., WEST VIRGINIA, 

WISCONSIN, WYOMING

The Griz lead the series 70-36-5!

2012 'Cat/Griz game November 17 in Missoula!