Tuscaloosa and Texas Mayors Bet Barbeque on Saturday Bama Game

The mayors of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Austin, Texas are betting barbeque on the outcome of Saturday's clash of the titans in Bryant-Denny Stadium as the Crimson Tide prepares to host the Longhorns.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has agreed he will send Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox and the city's team of employees a sampling of genuine Texas BBQ from Micklethwait Craft Meats should Nick Saban outfox his former coordinator Steve Sarkisian Saturday.

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Should the underdog prevail and Alabama loses, Maddox will send a spread from Dreamland BBQ to Watson and his crew in Austin.

“This friendly wager ups the ante on what already promised to be an exciting rematch between the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns,” Mayor Maddox said. “I have full confidence that Alabama will prevail once again in the electric atmosphere of Bryant-Denny Stadium, and look forward to a taste of Central Texas BBQ. Best of luck to Mayor Watson, and Roll Tide!”

Watson seems to have learned little from Texas governor Greg Abbott, who lost a similar wager with Alabama governor Kay Ivey last year after the Tide topped the Longhorns in a 20-19 nailbiter. 

“Texas is fired up and ready for a rematch,” Mayor Watson said. “I look forward to trying some of Tuscaloosa’s best BBQ after we beat Alabama. All that said, this will be a good game between two iconic college football programs in what’s likely an early chapter in a budding rivalry.”

The highly anticipated conclusion to the home-and-home series will kick off in Bryant-Denny Saturday at six, but not before drawing countless fans and celebrities to Tuscaloosa for the spectacle.

For more coverage of the weekend's events as they develop, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.