Montana Grizzlies football playoff appearances in a row (17), Big Sky Conference titles in a row (12), and overall playoff appearances (19). Their success made them the most successful program in all of college football in the 2000s (119 wins) and third most successful team in FCS in the 1990s (93 wins). The University of Montana's first football season was in 1897, where they won a single game against future rival Montana State. The team played only schools from Montana until it helped found the Northwest Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NWIAA) in 1902. In addition to Montana, this original Northwest Conference included Washington, Washington
Joe Montana Whitney (b. October 10, 1985), Elizabeth Jean (b. December 20, 1986), Nathaniel "Nate" Joseph (b. October 3, 1989), and Nicholas Alexander (b. April 28, 1992). Both of his sons played football for De La Salle High School. Nate became an undrafted free agent from West Virginia Wesleyan (after transferring from Notre Dame and the University of Montana), as did Nick, undrafted free agent from Tulane University (having transferred from the University of Washington and Mt. San Antonio College). In 2008, Montana sued ex-wife Moses and a Dallas auction house for "violating his 'copyright and privacy rights'" after Moses "sold a