[Cider Jim]

The Amtrak run into Glacier has always looked fun like that train to Banff. The station at the SE side of Glacier is right next at a huge lodge that is a throwback to the 1800s.

Too bad it takes 3-4 days to get there by train.

I've always wanted to do a cross country train trip, so I thought this Montana game might be a good excuse to look into it.

[libertyfan4life]

Glacier Nat'l unfortunately was closed and shut down most of this year. It put a real damper in alot of people's plans. It was really hard this year to get access into the park. Glacier on most years has only some peak months where the roads are good enough to get in. September is pretty late into that window of availability. If you can make it to Glacier and it is open, it is spectacular and well worth the trip and effort. If anyone has the time, Yellowstone is also approx. 3.5 hrs from Missoula and is a priceless trip as well. My wife and I go up to Yellowstone & Jackson Hole (Grand Teton's Nat'l) every year. Montana & Wyoming are really loose and lax on speed limits, so it makes for a quicker trip (comparative to the slow 55 mph snails pace on alot of Virginia roads).

[Sly Fox]

I used to love the days when there was no speed limit in Montana.

The park rangers usually close down Going to the Sun Road in Mid-to-Late September. It is the most spectacular drive in America IMHO. It is a full day from sunrise to sunset to make the trip from Missoula. But even the drive up to Kalispell and then back around from St. Mary's Lake is incredible as well. I doubt I'll make the trek on this trip up there. But Glacier is easily my favorite national park in the Lower 48. Yellowstone/Teton is not far behind (love me some Wy-daho).

[TDDance234]

Cheapest plane ticket I can find is in the high $400's. Guess I won't be making the trek for this one!

[Sly Fox]

Watch for post-holiday fare sales. Although the absolute cheapeat I could see any flights from the East Coast would be in the High 200s.

[matshark]

Hmm...two things...

1. I have two cousins at MSU right now and a third thats an alum.

2. It IS elk season then and I've always wanted to bag one with my bow...

*wheels turning...*

[Purple Haize]

Hmm...two things...

1. I have two cousins at MSU right now and a third thats an alum.

2. It IS elk season then and I've always wanted to bag one with my bow...

*wheels turning...*

The ones with or without suction cups on the ends of the arrows?

[BJWilliams]

without genius...(everyone thinks they are a comedian...)

[jjbeaty]

Speaking of "renting" a jet and having people go along for the ride:

http://www.tecca.com/news/2011/11/29/re ... ica-plane/

Being from Montana myself, however, I don't think Virgin flies into Missoula. In fact, it doesn't... Pretty sure! I lived up in Kalispell.

Anyways, thought that link might be fun to check out!

[Sly Fox]

I wish we had time to run up to Kalispell and into Glacier. But this trip will be too quick to make a run to.the Bulldog Pub.

I am definitely in because I am still working out logistics. My aunt & uncle will be in town that weekend at their place while on vacation from Japan. But I am definitely in.

[Sly Fox]

Here are a few more pics posted recently by Willie on AGS that might further sell the concept of making the trip ...

[thepostman]

I would love to go, looks like an amazing atmosphere.

Just watch out for the meth heads while hanging around town and you all show be fine!

[LUminary]

It is a great atmosphere. I've been there twice, about froze my ears off the last time just walking to the stadium. The stadium sits at the base of Hellgate Canyon. Enough said for how tough it is to play there. It's not the biggest stadium, but the bowl-like configuration puts the fans on top of the action. The Griz is (are?) a big deal in Missoula. A couple of fine restaurants downtown, one a great steak place, and I'll try to remember the names of them between now and then for those of you who are going.

[Purple Haize]

Hells Canyon? So this is like a missionary trip then

[LUminary]

Oops. Hellgate Canyon. But it wasn't as hot as...

[BiggAl57]

any word if this is going to be a day game or night game?

[Sly Fox]

That hasn't been posted yet. All Montana games are televised but the game time is yet to be announced.

[R i]

They dont have night games often. The last one they had was for the playoffs. ESPN had to bring lights. So my guess is it will be a day game.

[libertyfan4life]

It is a great atmosphere. I've been there twice, about froze my ears off the last time just walking to the stadium. The stadium sits at the base of Hellgate Canyon. Enough said for how tough it is to play there. It's not the biggest stadium, but the bowl-like configuration puts the fans on top of the action. The Griz is (are?) a big deal in Missoula. A couple of fine restaurants downtown, one a great steak place, and I'll try to remember the names of them between now and then for those of you who are going.

This is in no way an attempt to play word semantics with your comment. Just to add to it. Because as you had said Montana Football "is a big deal in Missoula," which is true and I agree. And the bigger scope which I am sure you'd also agree with is that Montana & MSU & just Football in general is a pretty big deal throughout much of the State as well.

Anyways, Montana Football has a really great following! Over the years, I have attended a couple of the local Weber State (not a fan) vs. Montana games here in Ogden. I've attended, because basically it is usually some pretty good local football. A year ago when Montana came to play here, Montana had a huge entourage and following of folks who had come down for the game. I was very impressed. And these fans were definately not the typical "seat warmer" types of fans at some colleges either. They were passionate to the last down. In a pretty hostile WSU environment. And the Montana fans left me with a respect for this type of die hard type of fanaticism, as in contrast, Weber State has a pretty good (definately above average) and passionate fan base.

I'll say it again, I think it would be awesome to see some Flames Fan's up in Missoula in the Fall.

[flamesfilmguy]

Looking more and more like i might potentially be free for this weekend. Its so very tempting...

[LUnpretty11]

Looking more and more like i might potentially be free for this weekend. Its so very tempting...

A temptation is something that is inevitably a bad thing. This would not be a bad thing. A calling is inevitably a good thing. This is a calling. You must go.

[ALAFlamesFan]

Not sure this is the thread for this but interesting article. Including how the game came about and the confirmation of a return game in 2016 (assuming any FBS move doesn't change things up)

Speaking of South Dakota, O'Day can pretty much sign that SEC check over to Joe Glenn and his Coyotes. It's going to cost $200,000 for the Grizzlies to bring them in for the Sept. 1 opener at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

"That's the going rate, because of the costs to get in and out of Montana," O'Day said. "I believe when Montana State played Drake (in 2010), it cost them $175,000."

The exception would be Liberty, which recently lured head coach Turner Gill out of his forced retirement from Kansas. It doesn't figure that Liberty is paying Gill, who was very successful at Buffalo but won just one Big 12 game at KU, the $2 million salary he continues to make from the Jayhawks.

But it must be a pretty good chunk of change - a couple times more than Robin Pflugrad gets to coach the Griz. Montana doesn't have to defray Liberty's travel costs from Lynchburg, Va. - the Flames can afford it.

That such a game happened is a testament to O'Day's presence on the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoff selection committee. It allowed him to rub elbows with Appalachian State AD Charlie Cobb and then Liberty AD Jeff Barber.

"It came about very similarly to how the App State game came about," said O'Day, who has the Griz scheduled to play at Liberty in 2016. "We started talking and were just trying to find a time to play each other. And we think for the good of FCS football, we need to see some of these cross-continent games."

http://www.montanagrizzlies.com/news/?n ... 10396&m=37

[Sly Fox]

Nice find with some good detail. Obviously we won't be paying the Grizzlies' travel costs when they come to Lynchburg either.

[LUPunter0105]

Our off week (high school team) is the following week...I may have to check prices of flights out there. Looks like a beautiful place to watch a game.

[SumItUp]

Has LU ever even played this far West?

Liberty also played at Boise State in the early 90's.

Has anyone else bought their tickets?