This collection of interviews documents the relationship between the University of Montana’s Grizzly Athletics, its fans, and the broader Montana community. The interviewees include former players, coaches, and trainers; UM students and faculty; and diverse Griz fans and community members. The majority of the interviews were conducted in Fall 2024 by students in Professor Jody Pavilack’s Practicing Oral History course, as part of a larger UM Public History Initiative to celebrate the 130th anniversary of the UM. More information about the project is available in the UM Oral History Project Highlights the Spirit of Griz Nation news release and on the Griz Nation tab of the Griz 130 website. The original interviews are held as Oral History Collection 492 at Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula.
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Norris V. Barnhill Interview, June 19, 2025
Norris V. Barnhill and Frankie Barnhill
Norris Vinton Barnhill, a lifelong Missoulian, recalls growing up in his family’s North Higgins clothing store, Barney’s, founded by his grandfather around 1912. He shares childhood memories of playing baseball from elementary school on. In early adulthood, he worked in Missoula’s mills and served in ... Read More
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Ralph "RJ" Rossi Interview, November 13, 2024
Ralph "RJ" Rossi
RJ Rossi, assistant coach for the University of Montana men’s lacrosse club team, describes growing up in southern Connecticut in the 1970s and how he found the game of lacrosse. He discusses his time in college playing in North Carolina at Guilford College and in ... Read More
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Rev. H. David Blackwell Interview, November 13, 2024
H. David Blackwell
Reverend David Blackwell discusses his experiences as a Griz football fan and the role of college sports within small communities. As a long-time Griz fan, Blackwell describes the stadium experience at the University of Montana and provides some context on the administrative aspects of sports ... Read More
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Robin Selvig Interview, November 4, 2024
Robin Selvig
Robin Selvig, a former University of Montana basketball player and Lady Griz head coach, discusses what his childhood was like growing up in a small town in Montana called Outlook. He recalls his time going to school and playing basketball at UM. Selvig speaks fondly ... Read More
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Sarjubhai "Sarj" Patel Interview, Novemeber 18, 2024
Sarjubhai Patel
Sarjubhai Patel discusses his experiences with Griz sports over a period of more than twenty years. As an Englishman living in America, “Sarj” recounts his first exposure to American football as a graduate student at the University of Montana and his ensuing love of the ... Read More
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Scott Nelson McGowan Interview, December 9, 2024
Scott Nelson McGowan
Scott McGowan discusses his life growing up on a ranch near Poplar, Montana. He talks about the importance of sports in his family and community from a young age including his participation in basketball and transition into track and field. McGowan reflects on his high ... Read More
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Scott Richter Interview, November 18, 2024
Scott Richter
Scott Richter discusses growing up in Missoula where his dad worked for the University of Montana. He discusses his early love of sports, particularly basketball, and how his competitive edge against his older brother eventually led him to play for the College of Great Falls ... Read More
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Shelley Kuntz Interview, Decemeber 5, 2024
Shelley Kuntz
Shelley Kuntz discusses her experiences as a lifelong Griz and college football fan. In particular, Kuntz talks about how her mother instilled a love of the Griz and college sports in her from a young age. She talks about the rivalry between UM and MSU ... Read More
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Tracy Mitchell Interview, November 8, 2024
Tracy Mitchell
Tracy Mitchell is from Boulder, MT and retired Major in the U.S. Army. She first joined the U.S. Army Reserve after High School and enrolled in Carroll College in Helena, MT. She was a Non-Commissioned Officer until she graduated from Carroll College in 2003 and ... Read More
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Tucker Sargent Interview, October 9, 2024
Tucker Sargent
Tucker Sargent discusses his transformation in the late 2000’s from a Griz lacrosse player to a coach, along with his connections to Griz hockey. Sargent describes the challenges of building up a lacrosse program right out of college, and how the community's support has changed ... Read More
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Wade Davies Interview, November 22, 2024
Wade Davies
UM History Professor Wade Davies discusses his personal and academic involvements with the history of sports and their relationship to communities. Davies details his upbringing in Indiana and his first introductions to sports, along with his first interests in Native American history which eventually led ... Read More