BILLINGS - The phrase “Brawl of the Wild” first appeared in the Nov. 16, 1997 editions of the Missoulian, the day after the Montana football team whipped Weber State and six days before the Grizzlies and Montana State Bobcats would tangle in what turned out to be one of the most thrilling games in the history of the rivalry.

Three paragraphs into his game story chronicling UM’s 38-13 win over the Wildcats in Missoula, sportswriter Kim Briggeman noted: “Only Montana State stands in the way of Montana’s fifth straight trip to the (Division) I-AA football playoffs. The 97th Brawl of the Wild takes place in Bozeman on Saturday. It’s been sold out for weeks.”

And there it was. The “Brawl of the Wild” name was born. Twenty-five years ago to the day.

You’ve seen the name for years now. And you

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