Brawl of the Wild
112 Years of 'Cat/Griz Rivalry
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!
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