Peter Christian On How He Became Griz Football PA Announcer

Peter Christian. He is an absolute legend. Christian is one of, if not the, most respected news reporters in Missoula and Montana over the last four decades. He's also the long-time in-house voice at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and when the new season kicks on August 31, it will mark year number 27 for Christian's role as PA Announcer.

"Our friend Denny Bedard, who he and I still work together, told me they needed a public address announcer for football. Something had happened to the gentleman who had done it before, so I said 'Pick me," said Christian. "They kind of throw you in there to the lions."

With Christian's impeccable voice, it's difficult to imagine there was a time when Peter wasn't good at his job, but there was a time.

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"My first year was very rough. I did not have a really qualified spotter - someone to help me with down and distance and yards and that sort of thing while I'm reading all my announcements. They eventually got that straightened out with a gentleman named John Wall..."

No, not that John Wall.

"Who is the best at everything," continued Christian. "All my best to John. He's been battling some illness and we've got our prayers going for him."

Where did "First Down....... MONTANA" come from?

If you've been to a Griz game then you've already deciphered what "First Down........ MONTANA" is. Just in case you haven't, anytime the Griz pick up a fresh new set of downs Peter will bellow "First down" and the crowd will yell back "Montana." It's simple, yet it's a trademark of Saturdays in Missoula. We can thank the Idaho Vandals for that.

"I was watching a Griz game. The Griz were playing, I think, the University of Idaho in Spokane at the stadium there. And the announcer for Idaho said...."

You know what, I'll let Peter tell the rest of the story.

The rest is history, unlike Christian's time as PA Announcer.

"I told Kent [Haslem] 'Kent you're gonna have to tell me when you think I can't [do it anymore] and I'll take your word for it.

In my humble opinion, Peter, you've still got it. You also won't find another individual with more passion for the Montana Grizzlies than Peter Christian.

"It's one of the reasons I stay in Missoula. Because I love the Griz, I love the Grizzly Football tradition, I love the winning tradition, I love the energy and the actual physical place of Washington-Grizzly Stadium."

Here's to Peter's 27th year at Wa-Griz.