Beshear is placing a friendly wager on the WKU-Drake NCAA tournament game with Iowa's governor. And as any red blooded and red towel waving WKU alum (me) or fan will tell you, the Hilltoppers are moving on to the field of 32!!!!! The only bad part is that I won't be there to see it. My boss didn't buy my explanation that a field trip to Tampa would be a wise decision for the station. Here's the release from Beshear's office:

Governor Beshear Announces Friendly Wager with Governor Chet Culver of Iowa Over WKU/Drake Game

FRANKFORT, KY (March 19, 2008) – Gov. Steve Beshear announced today that he and Iowa Gov. Chet Culver have made a friendly wager based on the outcome of Friday’s Western Kentucky University game against Drake University.

If Western wins, Gov. Culver has agreed to send Gov. Beshear 40 pounds of premium Berkshire pork raised on family farms in northwest Iowa. If Drake wins, Gov. Beshear has agreed to send Gov. Culver a corvette collectable windbreaker from the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant since Bowling Green is home to Western.

“My wife, Jane, and I are looking forward to a number of pork dinners in the near future,” said Gov. Beshear. “We could not be more proud of our Hilltopper men and women’s teams – both making it to this year’s big dance!”

“I have confidence in our Drake Bulldogs,” Gov. Culver said. “I’m optimistic they’re going to come through with a big win over a very worthy opponent. I look forward to presenting coach Keno Davis with a new windbreaker as a reminder of an incredible season and hopefully the beginning of a long and successful tournament run.”

The men’s game is scheduled for Friday, March 21st at 12:30p.m.