January 09, 2015

National Championship: The “Big Bet”

Oregon Senators Wyden and Merkley, Ohio Senators Brown and Portman put pride on the line for Ducks-Buckeyes wager

WASHINGTON, DC – The national championship game Monday night between Ohio State and Oregon has generated so much talk between the U.S. Senators from Oregon and Ohio that both sides have decided it’s time to back it up by putting up “very personal” stakes.

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have settled on a bet with Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman that all parties have pledged to fulfill in public on the Capitol steps.

If Oregon beats Ohio State on Jan. 12, Senators Brown and Portman have agreed to learn how to “throw the O” sign with instructions from their Oregon colleagues and from the Oregon Duck if and when the Ducks visit Washington, DC as national champions.

If Ohio State defeats Oregon, Senators Wyden and Merkley have agreed to help their Ohio colleagues spell “O-H-I-O.”

“We make this wager in full confidence that Oregon will win Monday night with its high-octane offense led by Heisman winner Marcus Mariota and its swarming, ball-hawking defense,” Wyden and Merkley said. “And we of course look forward to showing our friends from Ohio how to make the universal symbol for Ducks’ dominance.”

“As a proud alum of The Ohio State University – I look forward to watching the Buckeyes bring home the first ever college football playoff championship,” Brown said. “The waterfowl of Eugene will put up a strong and respectable effort but will ultimately migrate back to Oregon empty handed.  I accept Sens. Wyden and Merkley’s wager and look forward to helping them spell out the name of our great state after the game. Go Bucks!”

“I’m looking forward to seeing our Buckeyes bring home a national championship on Monday,” Portman said. “Whether you’re from Urban, Ohio or a Buckeye on the Bay, Ohioans are ready for a championship and I’ll be ready to show my friends from Oregon how to OH-IO!”