All that ruckus is a time-honored homecoming tradition at the University of Montana called “Yell Night.”
Officially, it's called the “Yell Night Pep Rally,” and includes Singing on the Steps, the lighting of the “M,” fireworks, a boisterous performance by the UM marching band, and an appearance by the entire Grizzly football team, who like to take the opportunity to thank their die-hard fans.
This year, however, the event has been moved to Wednesday night so it won't get lost among the throng of concertgoers who will descend upon campus Friday night to see Elton John perform at the Adams Center.
Messing around with tradition can be tricky business, and moving the festivities a few days earlier might be viewed as a gamble to some, said Bill Johnston, director of UM's Alumni Association. But the truth is, the rally has always been a flexible beast.
After rooting around in UM archives and reading old stories, Johnston said the homecoming festivities have morphed over the decades, changing with the times and campus demands.
For instance, Singing on the Steps - UM's oldest tradition - was originally conceived as a way to make major announcements - anytime during the academic year - and to sometimes hold a pep rally.
Earliest records show the tradition began sometime in the early 1930s.
“When it comes to these UM traditions, it really depends when you went to school here,” Johnston said. “When I started as alumni director in 1988, it was held on Thursday.”
Last year, the pep rally was held downtown at the Holiday Inn with a bonfire. While that event was successful overall and lots of people showed up, Johnston said, it wasn't successful in drawing families, mostly because of the late hour.
Hopefully, he said, more families and the youngest Grizzly fans will come to the celebration, Johnston said.
“Yell Night and Singing on the Steps is designed for everyone in Missoula - not just alumni and current students - but for everyone who has ties to UM,” he said.
For the event, the Oval will be encircled with luminarias, and during the rowdy hollering and cheering, Grizzly football highlights will be shown on a jumbo screen.
As darkness falls, UM students will hike up the “M” trail with large red and white flashlights, the kind that are used to land airplanes.
Johnston said that tradition is one of his favorites because the hikers - led by UM Advocates, a student group - look like a colorful giant centipede winding its way up the mountain. When they get to the “M,” the students surround the landmark, until they get the signal to light things up.
“Usually they have the flashlights turned off when they get there, and when they get the signal - a phone call these days - they turn on a flashlight one at at time and then they start doing all these different routines like the wave - moving east to west and then north to south,” he said. “It's just really fun to watch.”
“This is just one of the many homecoming celebrations this week,” Johnson said, “and everyone is invited.”
Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at bcohen@missoulian.com.
Homecoming events
Other events this week connected to the University of Montana's homecoming celebration:
The annual Homecoming Art Fair will take place from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday in the University Center Atrium.
An all-alumni social and dance will be at 9 p.m. Friday at the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park.
Saturday's homecoming parade begins at 10 a.m. at Circle Square and then travels south on Higgins Avenue to University Avenue.
The homecoming football game against Weber State kicks off at 1:05 p.m. in Washington-Grizzly Stadium, followed by a Homecoming Ball for students and alumni at 8:30 p.m. in the University Center Ballroom.
For a complete schedule of events, call the UM Alumni Association at 243-5211 or go online at www.umontanaalumni.org.
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