Brad and Carol Holm, longtime residents of the Reserve community near Plentywood, Montana, have turned attending University of Montana Grizzly football games into a yearly pilgrimage. Since purchasing season tickets in 2012, the 70‑year‑old couple has driven the 575‑mile one‑way distance to Missoula for every home game, logging more than 1,150 miles round‑trip each season.
Epic Road Trip Across the Hi‑Line
The Holms’ route winds through the Hi‑Line, passing Malta, Havre, Great Falls and Rogers Pass before arriving at Washington‑Grizzly Stadium. They often arrive days early to meet fellow fans at local Missoula establishments and tailgate near the Grizzly practice bubble.
A Custom Grizzly‑Themed Van
To make the long drives more comfortable, the couple bought a 2018 Ram ProMaster van in Billings and had it painted maroon and gray with official Grizzly logos and paw prints. The tall van allows tailgaters to stand upright inside, turning the vehicle itself into a moving tribute to the team.
Family, Faith, and Community
Both Brad and Carol grew up in small towns near the Canadian border—Brad attended the University of Montana briefly in the 1970s, and Carol spent some college time in Bozeman. Their shared love of the Grizzlies has helped them forge a wide network of friends across the state, reinforcing the sense of community that the Grizzly fan base is known for.
“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.” Their dedication exemplifies the deep ties that Montana’s small towns maintain with the university’s athletic tradition.
Season Ticket Seats
The Holms sit eight rows behind the home‑team bench on the 30‑yard line, a prime spot that lets them watch the action up close while still being part of the larger tailgate atmosphere.
Their story, originally reported by Cary Shimek of UM News Service, highlights how devotion to a college football program can bring together families, faith, and a love of travel—values that resonate deeply with Montana’s tight‑knit communities.
Original reporting: NewsTalk KGVO 1290 (Townsquare) — read the source article.
