MISSOULA ―

A Carousel for Missoula will hold the first-ever Griz Day at the Carousel on Saturday, June 16.

University of Montana Grizzly football players will be at the Carousel to meet and talk with fans from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The players will arrive on a staggered schedule, so there will be new faces throughout the event. Five athletes from the team will show up at 11 a.m., and then five more will replace those players at 1 p.m.

The UM Athletics Department and A Carousel for Missoula are providing a limited number of items to be given away to attendees. A silent auction including a signed football, a signed basketball from the men's team, and a signed photo from Marc Mariani will be offered.

"Jacob Haas, one of the Grizzly football players, came up with this idea to help the Carousel," says Theresa Cox, executive director of A Carousel for Missoula. "Lots of his teammates have agreed to be part of the fun and the UM Athletic Department has been very helpful.

"We are really grateful to Townsquare Media, Mountain Broadcasting and the Montana Marketing Group for helping us get out the word about the event. This town is crazy about its Grizzlies, and we want everyone to have the opportunity to meet their favorite football players."

Haas, a 6-5, 225-pound senior tight end, is a two-year letterman from Portland, Ore., who played in several games last season primarily on special teams, and then was forced to miss the last half of the 2011 season after suffering an injury.

"We expect 10 to 12 players to attend the event, and it will be a great chance for us to spend time with the kids in our community, and have them get to know us without our pads on," Haas said.