Mayor Madeline Rogero has placed a friendly wager with Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl of Evanston, Ill., on the outcome of the 30th Anniversary Outback Bowl to be played on Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. The game will pit the Big Ten’s Northwestern University Wildcats from Evanston against the SEC’s University of Tennessee Volunteers from Knoxville. The two mayors met via conference call on Friday, Dec. 18, to place the wager.

In a “Battle of Spirits,” Mayor Tisdahl wagered a bottle of FEW Bourbon Whiskey from Evanston’s FEW Spirits if Tennessee wins, while Mayor Rogero wagered a bottle of Old City Heirloom Corn Whiskey from Knox Whiskey Works if Northwestern is victorious. 

“I appreciate Mayor Rogero’s good sportsmanship in putting up authentic Tennessee whiskey against the world’s best bourbon. It will be my pleasure to toast the Wildcats with some of Tennessee’s finest after Northwestern hands it to the Volunteers,” said Mayor Tisdahl. “The silver lining for Mayor Rogero is that she won’t have to travel too far to pick up a bottle of our city’s hand-crafted, award-winning spirit, as it’s now distributed throughout the country and the world, including Knoxville. One thing is for sure, the Outback Bowl has picked two excellent football teams to compete in Tampa this year.”

“I look forward to enjoying some of Evanston’s world-class bourbon after the Vols’ big win on New year’s Day. It will just make the victory that much sweeter,” Mayor Rogero said. “But any time Mayor Tisdahl is passing through Knoxville, I will be happy to treat her to a sampling of Knox Whiskey Works’ fine local libations. May the best team – and whiskey – win!”  

The 2016 Outback Bowl will kick off on Friday, Jan. 1, at noon ET/11 a.m. CST, and will be televised on ESPN 2.