A RUSHING LEGACY

What many people do not know is that Mercer Timmis has outstanding football ancestry. His late great-grandfather Brian Timmis is member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton.

Brian Timmis played for the Hamilton Tigers in an era when many players played on both sides of the football; he was a dominant fullback and defensive lineman. During his time in Hamilton the Tigers captured three Grey Cups (1928, 1929 and 1932). Brian followed his playing days by joining the coaching ranks, in 1943 he lead the Flying Wildcats to a Grey Cup Victory. To honor the contribution Brain Timmis made to football in Hamilton, the field adjacent to Ivor Wynn Stadium is named after him.  

Mercer’s grand-father also named Brian Timmis played in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1953 as a running back. Prior to his time in the pros he attended McMaster and Queen’s Universities playing for their football teams. Brian is now 84 years old and currently lives in Burlington, Ontario. He is now a proud grandfather who follows Mercer’s games on the computer.

“I am definitely aware of my great grandfather’s accomplishments and also that of my grandfather,” states Mercer who is named after his great-grandfather.

Mercer’s father, Brian Timmis played High School football in Burlington but did not play the game at the university level. Aside from football, he was an accomplished tennis player. While Mercer’s Mother Jennifer was a competitive ski racer and runner. So athletics were skill strong in the genes. “Football skipped a generation in our family,” jokes Mercer when asked about his father’s football accomplishments.

A second year Haskayne School of Business student Mercer rushed for 1157 yards (4^th in school history) this season which was a mere 26 yards short of Anthony Woodson’s 1183 (2^nd most) set in 2007. Mercer did run his way into the school and conference record books with 19 total touchdowns in 2013. His performance on the field this year earned him 2013 Canada West Most Outstanding Player Award, a Conference all-star selection and he is a finalist for the Hec Crighton Trophy.

“I loved the program and wanted to play for Coach Nill,” stated Timmis who felt both the football and academic programs were the right fit for him to make the move to Calgary after spending two seasons at a prep school in Buffalo, NY,

Mercer now hopes to lead his team to victory this weekend over the Western Mustangs, in the Mitchell Bowl, so the Dinos could move on to the Vanier Cup in Quebec City.

This weekend’s game will pit Mercer against, fellow Hec Crighton Nominee, Western QB Will Finch. Mercer and Will were teammates growing up in the Burlington Stampeders Minor Football Program.

For more information on Brian Timmis visit the following link:
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame: Brian Timmis