Grizzly fans set two new attendance records

While the University of Montana football team basks in the glory of a victory over rival Montana State University and a first-round playoff win, Griz fans have something to be proud of, as well.

UM set a new attendance record for Washington-Grizzly Stadium at the Cat-Griz game, with 24,018 people showing up, breaking the old record of 23,867 set when Montana played Montana State in 2004.

Thanksgiving weekend usually means fewer people at the game, but not this weekend, as the Griz faithful turned out to watch Montana pummel McNeese State 31-6. The fans set another record for the largest crowd ever at a first-round playoff game in Washington-Grizzly Stadium with 20,077 people.

Down the road, the Bobcats were playing in their first home playoff game in 22 years. With 9,427 people showing up, MSU saw its smallest crowd since the Sacramento State game in November 2003. MSU’s Sports Information Director Bill Lamberty attributed it to the holiday weekend.

“There was only about a third as many students there and a lot of other fans were out of town, too,” he said. “Despite that, the players said it was the loudest they had ever heard the (crowd), so the people that could get there were in full-throat.”

The Cat-Griz game also saw a vast amount of people wearing their maroon, especially in the student section and north end zone. Brint Wahlberg, who helped to organize the first “Maroon-out”, said he was pleased with the number of people who participated.

“I think it was pretty successful,” he said. “For being a word-of-mouth thing for only five or six days, everyone did a great job.”

Wahlberg said most people probably took part in the “Maroon-out” because it was unique, something that hadn’t been done yet at Montana. He added that it didn’t hurt that it was also one of the most important games of the season.

“There is already so much hype around Cat-Griz,” Wahlberg said. “You throw something like that into the mix and it spreads like wildfire.”

As was expected, however, the cold weather did play a part in taking away from the number of people wearing maroon.

“We realized not everyone was going to be able to do it,” he said. “Not everyone has a maroon coat.”

Wahlberg said the “Maroon-out” is something they will possibly do again, but not until next year when it’s warmer.

“It’s easier for Homecoming, when it’s nice out,” he said. “It’s easier to buy a $10 maroon T-shirt.”

As for the upcoming playoff game against Southern Illinois, fans on eGriz.com are organizing an event called “Loud and Proud.” A post on the Web site asks for fans to “show the world how loud Washington-Grizzly Stadium is and show that we are the best fans in college football.”

“It’s basically asking for people to bring their A-game this weekend,” Wahlberg said.

Wahlberg said he thinks the fan support has been getting better each game, and with the offense coming to life the football team is responding.

“It’s a two-way street,” Wahlberg said. “The crowd and team feed off each other.”