Super Griz Fans Log 1,150 Miles Round Trip to Every Home Game

To be sure, there is more than one story like this out there - a true testament of fan devotion for their beloved football team.

This one caught my eye and took me back to 1985, the year I got to attend a University of Montana Grizzly football game in Minneapolis, when the Minnesota Golden Gophers hosted the Griz. To give the size of the state of Montana some scale, while the game was forgettable, a 62-17 loss, it was an opportunity to connect with fellow Montana fans who also made the journey, including fans from Plentywood, Montana, in part because it took them less time to drive to the Twin Cities than it did to drive to Missoula!

But these dedicated fans are not deterred by a measly 575 miles to get to the Mecca of FCS Football. Let's meet Brad and Carol Holm and enjoy their story, and the sweet new ride in which they travel GRIZ-style.

FOOTBALL SUPER FANS NEVER MISS A GRIZ HOME GAME

Cary Shimek with UM News Service shared a fantastic story about what it means to bleed Grizzly maroon and silver: 

If Griz football fandom were measured in miles, few could match Brad and Carol Holm. The couple hails from the Plentywood (population 1,600) area, located in the northeastern corner of Montana, about 17 miles south of the Canadian border and near the border of northwestern North Dakota. More specifically, the Holms live in the nearby Plentywood suburb of Reserve (population 30).

When Brad and Carol hit the road, it’s 575 miles one way to Missoula, the University of Montana and their beloved Washington-Grizzly Stadium. And since they retired and purchased season tickets in 2012, they’ve never missed a home game.

“Brad and I just get so excited about Griz games,” Carol said. “We have friends who have retirement homes down in Arizona, but we tell people that doing this is our Arizona. And we’ve made so many great friends over the years.”

THE ITINERARY

As Cary Shimek reminds us, the saying goes that Montana is one big small town with really long streets. For the Holms, their main street winds across the Hi-Line through Malta and Havre, down to Great Falls and over Rogers Pass, before cruising into the heart of Griz Nation.

And these super fans have a stylish new ride for their epic drives. They just purchased a maroon and gray 2018 Ram ProMaster van, which they promptly paid to decorate with trademarked Griz logos and paws just in time for Homecoming. The van is tall enough for tailgaters to stand upright inside.

Brad said when they saw the van for sale with its inspiring colors in Billings, it was meant to be – love at first sight.

“We took it around the block, stopped back and bought it,” he said with a laugh. “Now, with the new look, we probably wouldn’t leave it sitting out overnight in Bozeman.”

READ MORE: U of Montana Grizzly Bears Awarded Co-Branding With Smokey Bear

GRIZ ROOTS

Brad’s UM ties go way back. His older sister was a Griz, and he completed a few quarters at UM as a student in the 1970s, but illness and a broken arm derailed his college career. 

Carol, who grew up in Dagmar (another Plentywood-area burg, population 30), admits to doing some student time at a college in Bozeman, but her relationship with Brad helped her switch allegiance early on. Now both 70 years old, the two have been together for 55 years and married for 48.

The Holms often arrive days before each home game to meet with friends at various Missoula establishments. And of course, their game-day experience would not be complete without tailgating near the Griz practice bubble, which is near our radio station's pregame show broadcast stage in the Grizzly Scholarship Association tailgate site. Maybe we can sweet-talk them into stopping by and talking on the radio!

MONTANA GRIZZLIES

Then it's off to their season ticket seats 8 rows behind the home team bench on the 30-yard line.

For these two amazing fans, it's UP WITH and CLEAR ACROSS MONTANA! Check out more of Cary Shimek's story and get better acquainted with Carol and Brad Holm here.