Fans are invited to cheer the national championship-bound Montana Grizzlies on to Chattanooga Tuesday afternoon as they pass through downtown on their way to the Missoula airport.

Team buses will leave from the parking lot at Washington-Grizzly Stadium's south entrance at 1:30 p.m., escorted by patrol cars from Missoula-area law enforcement and a ladder truck from the Missoula Fire Department.

Fans can either gather in the parking lot to cheer the football players and coaches as they board the buses at 1:15 p.m. or line up along Broadway Avenue between Madison and Reserve streets to show their support as the caravan passes.

Free posters are available for fans at many Broadway Avenue businesses along the route. Just look for "We Believe" and "Up With Montana, Boys" posters displayed in business windows.

Tuesday afternoon's send-off parade will be the only time fans will be able to show the Montana Grizzlies their support until after the new year. Since the Grizzlies return home at 5 a.m. Saturday morning, there will not be a welcome-home ceremony as in years past. Instead, fans will be invited to an autograph party and celebration -- win or lose -- during a basketball game at the start of UM's spring semester.