TRM’s 1969 team to get rings

Published 6:01 pm Monday, June 22, 2009

By By Adam Robinson
Sports Editor

T.R. Miller has won six state championships in football. The Tigers won championships in 1969, 1984, 1991, 1994, 2000, and 2002.
While all those teams have brought back a blue state championship trophy to Brewton for the Tigers, only one of those years is different from the other five—the 1969 team.
No, it has nothing to do with their records or anything; it is a state championship ring.
Of the six state championship football teams at T.R. Miller, the 1969 team is the only team without a ring.
But this October, members of that time can have the chance to get their lone missing ring if they choose.
T.R. Miller’s 1969 2A state football champions will celebrate their 40th anniversary with a reunion on Friday and Saturday, October 2 and 3. 
The T.R. Miller Quarterback Club will provide a tailgate party for the team and their families prior to the T.R. Miller vs. Calhoun game and they will be recognized in pregame ceremonies. 
A luncheon will be held on Saturday followed by a program honoring the championship team.  The program will consist of speakers and a special video presentation detailing the story of the championship season. 
Members of the team will be able to purchase championship rings for the first time at these ceremonies (if they have not already), as there were no championship rings for high school teams in those days. Those rings will be presented at the conclusion of the program. 
The 1969 team went 11-0 scoring 486 points while only giving up 28 points.  They concluded their season with a 27-0 victory over Aliceville in the state championship game played in Brewton.
Current T.R. Miller Tiger football head coach Jamie Riggs, who was in the eighth grade at the time, has already sent out invitations and ring order forms.
Riggs said that there is also talk of them getting state championship rings that they never got.
Riggs said there had been talk before discussing the ring and some of the guys were discussing it when they first started planning the reunion and the subject of rings came up but nothing happened.
Riggs said he had a ring designed, similar to some of the rings that they have had at Miller in the past.
At times, Riggs said he has heard discussions of people giving the rings to their children and it has become an important thing.
Of the invitations already sent out, Riggs is already seeing interest with the ones that have came back.
In the semifinal game, T.R. Miller defeated Abbeville 41-14 in November of 1969 at Rip Hewes Stadium in Dothan.
Please contact Riggs at 867-8436 or at jamieriggs33@gmail.com with addresses or emails of team members, cheerleaders, coaches and administrators or if you are interested in coming or for more information.

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