If you are a Presbyterian Roo wondering who to root for in the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, you might want to consider a small Catholic college in eastern Washington State.
The Zags of the University of Gonzaga are a #1 seed in the tournament and are looking for their first national championship. They came oh so close in 2017, falling to North Carolina in the title game. In 2021, the Zags sport an undefeated 26-0 record and are ranked #1 in the nation. Some feel that this might finally be the year for that Spokane school founded by Catholics.
Catholics and Scottish Presbyterians parted ways 500 years ago, but that protestant divorce was less messy than others. Presbyterians retained much of the formality and hierarchy of the church in Rome. Early church officials in Scotland frequently mentioned that the offices of the [Presbyterian] “elder” and the [Catholic] “bishop” were practically identical. The word Presbyterian, in fact, means “elder.”
Even in Texas, Austin College Presbyterianism held tightly to its traditional roots. As denominations raced west to convert lost souls, two factions of American Presbyterians fought over how best to proceed. One group favored dropping the formality of the church for greater speed, while the other insisted on maintaining traditional ties and a slower pace. The informal group, the “Cumberland Presbyterians,” eventually formed Trinity University. The “elder” Austin College Presbyterians are more Rome-like than their Trinity cousins.
Sure though, maybe Presbyterian AC’s close ties to a family of many a Catholic Bishop is not enough to persuade you. I mean, who cares? Amirite? Well then, how about Presbyterian AC’s close ties to the family of Jerry Bishop?
Austin College Kangaroo Jerry Bishop rewrote the record books during his tenure as AC quarterback in the early 1960s. By his graduation in 1966, Bishop held AC records for most passing yards in a career (5,992 yards), season (2,246 yards), and a game (495 yards). That nearly 500-yard game against East Central (OK) in 1963 set five NAIA national records. Bishop’s career passing record stood for over 50 years, until it was finally broken by Colt Collins in 2019. Kirk Hughes, the “Voice of the Roos,” had the call of Collins breaking Bishop’s record. NAIA All-American Jerry Bishop sits in the Austin College Hall of Honor.
Jerry Bishop won’t have much time in the coming weeks to reminisce about his Roo football days though. Bishop will be watching a lot of the NCAA tournament, as his grandson Drew Timme plays hoops for Gonzaga. Timme is a starting power forward for the Zags; he leads the conference in scoring with 19 points per game. Drew Timme was recently named a Naismith Trophy Semifinalist for Men’s College Basketball Player of the year. Timme’s younger brother plays in high school and is something of a prized future recruit himself.
The Timme family are members of Reverend Clayton Oliphint’s church in Richardson; Reverend Oliphint presided over Drew Timme’s baptism. At the time, Drew was a 6’3” 6th grader. Oliphint reports that Timme was his first and only baptism where he had to “reach up” to complete the job. Reverend Oliphint held many AC football records of his own by the time of his graduation, but the Roo accomplishment he likely prizes the most is one which up to now has eluded the Zags: a national championship.
Drew Timme’s Coach Mark Few has been a part of Gonzaga basketball for over 30 years, including the 23 trips by the Zags to the NCAA tournament. Is Coach Few a legend at that Catholic school in Spokane? You bet he is. But Few also has Presbyterian ties. His father is a Presbyterian Pastor.
Because of Covid restrictions, the 2021 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament will take place with limited fans and will be played entirely within the state of basketball crazy Indiana. First round play begins Friday, March 19th. If Gonzaga runs the table, they’ll end the season at 32-0 and will tie the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers for best record in NCAA history. Due to the slow-moving success that is the national vaccination rollout, this is the first time since March of 2020 that many of us have even thought about sports. I’ll be watching, and I’ve got my team.
Yes, perhaps this “Elder” Timme brother from a family of Presbyterian Kangaroo “Bishops” will lead that Catholic school in Washington to its long-awaited national crown. And we can all tune in to watch it happen, as these two historic faiths work to push Gonzaga to its one shining moment.
