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Family, friends and fans of teh Timpson Bears gather this past Tuesday to celebrate with their favorite team during the ring award ceremony and autograph session with players, coaches and managers. Dennis Phillips | The Light and Champion -
The fantastic and beautiful 2023 State Championship ring awarded to players, coaches and managers of the Timpson Bears this past Tuesday night. Dennis Phillips | The Light and Champion -
Players gathered in the event center after the ring ceremony to sign autographs. Here a player signs for the Light and Champion a helmett and the metal plate from the printing press which represented the original championship newspaper printed by the Light and Champion last December. Dennis Phillips | The Light and Champion -
Terry Bussey on top of the world with his ring, his team, his coaches and his family. Dennis Phillips The Light and Champion
The Timpson Bears, after more than a century of playing ball, clinched the state championship in December 2023. This monumental victory, a first in over 100 seasons, is a testament to their unwavering dedication and skill.
December 13 was declared Timspon Bear Day by the Timpson City Council, and a recent proclamation recognized, officially from the city, what everyone in a packed auditorium this past Tuesday even already knew: the Timpson Bears are State Champions and the level of pride the team has brought to the community is immeasurable.
In Dallas, directly following the game: “It’s fantastic,” said Timpson head coach Kerry Therwhanger. “It’s about memories for these kids; I’m just happy I could help them make some of those. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives. This community will remember this for a long time, so I’m just happy for them. It means a lot to those kids. Getting there after last year, especially, they could have been let down, but they didn’t. They returned, worked all summer, and were ready to go.”
With school records falling like the shooting stars in heaven, now retired head football coach Kerry Therwhanger addressed the auditorium this past Tuesday to honor the coaching staff, managers, and players with the traditional ring presentation that all received to commemorate the historic victory.
Many players from the team will go on in life with football scholarships and higher education opportunities, more reward for the hard work and effort of not only the players but also the school system and the community, all banded in Black and Gold pride.
Most notable is quarterback Terry Bussey, the Texas all-star high school quarterback who signed with Texas A&M University to enter the SEC College conference this fall.
The Aggies highlight Busey with his accolades, which include: 2024 Under Armour All-American and Polynesian Bowl selection, and Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year finalist.
Led Timpson to an undefeated 16-0 record and a UIL 2A-D1 state title, was named the offensive MVP after throwing for 311 yards, rushing for 155 yards, and scoring six touchdowns.
Set the state championship game records for the longest touchdown pass (97 yards) and a class 2A record for the longest rushing touchdown (93 yards.)
He was a two-way four-year letterman at Timpson, where he threw for 5,981 yards and rushed for 5,361 yards with 169 touchdowns as a quarterback while totaling 270 tackles and 24 interceptions in his career.
As a junior, he was named Dave Campbell’s Mr. Texas Football Player of the Year and TSWA Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year.
He earned district MVP honors in 2023, 2022, and 2021.
Multi-sport athlete earning district MVP honors in basketball in 2022, has a personal best time of 10.66 in the 100m and won the 2A state championship in the triple jump (4510) as a junior.
Nephew of Texas A&M Aggie Domingo Bryant (1982-85) was a two-time All-Southwest Conference honoree (‘82, ‘85) before being drafted in the sixth round of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
• 247 Sports: 5 star, No. 1 ATH, No. 18 in Nation
• Rivals: 5 star, No. 7 ATH, No. 16 in Nation
• ESPN: 4 star, No. 1 ATH, No. 27 in Nation Tuesday evening was not just about one player but an entire community that stood witness to their football team. Coach Therwhanger did what could be his final act in presenting a stunning ring to the players, coaches, and managers.
Congratulations to the Timpson Bears on a job well done; you have made everyone in Shelby County very proud of the Bears.