Up With Montana

Up With Montana is the fight song of the University of Montana. Its lyrics are credited to Dick Howell, a law student and member of the glee club in the 1910s, who wrote them in 1914 “to commemorate the rivalry” for the 21st meeting between the University of Montana and its rival Montana State University, then known as State University of Montana and Montana College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts respectively. Referencing the song's final stanza, "And the squeal of the pig will float on the air; from the tummy of the Grizzly Bear", the New York Times commented that "at the University of Montana, fans expect their team to devour its enemies while still alive."
Despite the reference, eight months earlier in January 2002, the song was read aloud on the Senate floor by Sen. Fritz Hollings as part of a friendly bet with Montana's Senator Max Baucus over who would win the NCAA I-AA Football Championship that year.
Though the song was copyrighted by "ASUM, State University of Montana" in 1929 the origin of the tune itself is disputed. The Stanford Jonah of the University of California, Berkley, "Up With the White and Gold" and The "Up With The Navy" (which gives credit to the University of Montana) also share a similar tune. "The Stanford Jonah" was written in 1913 by Ted Haley as an entry into a song contest held by the Daily Californian and is the oldest of the group. The song continues to be a hit at most sporting events of the school, but specifically at events between the California Golden Bears and their rival, the Stanford Cardinal. Given the relative age and similarities between the songs as well as the unlikelihood of Montana and Georgia Tech crossing paths, it is likely that both "Up With Montana" and "White and Gold" are derived from "The Stanford Jonah."

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu