When we were younger we used to go to Battle of the Bands and have a real good time. Now that we're older we go to Battle of the Boosters and have a really good time.

Such was the case Thursday afternoon as the University of Montana and Montana State University both held functions in the Capital City.

The Bobcats hosted a golf scramble at Green Meadow Country Club, while the Grizzlies were hanging out at the Barrister Bed and Breakfast.

Both athletic directors were on hand along with numerous staff members from their sports programs.

Montana is in the midst of a large addition to its football stadium, while Montana State is ready to start putting in a new playing surface at its venue.

"When you come from Helena into Missoula, you can't miss it," UM athletic director Jim O'Day said.

The addition is nearly sold out and seats are selling faster than expected.

"We wanted to sell 80 percent, but we're much higher than that.

"We'll always consider more additions. We can add another 1,500 to the current addition."

The Bobcats are raising funds for a estimated $100 million in facility improvements.

"We're still in the quiet phase," MSU athletic director Peter Fields said. "We need to have 80 percent of our goal before we come out of that, but the goal moves around a bit. It's anywhere from $12-20 million right now."

The Bobcats are also dealing with an APR issue, which Fields feels is coming around.

"We set a goal of 906 with the NCAA and we hit that we can ask for a waiver again this year," he said.

MSU has had 16 straight years of over 3.0 GPA in all its sports programs combined. The players donated 5,500 hours of community service, including 530 hours by track team member Sarah Eby. Eby is off to Mayo Clinic for a MD/PhD program.

Montana fans were stunned two weeks ago when football player J.D. Quinn was charged with a DUI in Missoula for the second straight year.

Quinn pled guilty to the first charge and had the second dismissed.

According to O'Day, Quinn has had an indefinite suspension from the team lifted and is expected to receive some internal discipline, but nothing as severe as the three-game suspension he served last season.

Among the coaches on hand for MSU was women's basketball coach Tricia Binford.

The Bobcats were one of the biggest surprise in all of Big Sky Conference athletics as they stormed to a third place finish in the regular season and then advanced to the championship game of the league tourney.

"We don't look back too much," Binford said when asked about how far her team has come since a loss to Carroll College in her first season as coach. "The jumps you make are tougher the better you get. Next year our goal is to finish in the top two, so we can get a first round bye. We really ran out of gas in the championship game."

It's a tough call on who won the Battle of the Boosters, but it's a good bet that nn if asked nn fans from both sides will be claiming victory.

Reporter Tom Stuber: 447-4070 or irsports@helenair.com