McCrory, Haley make BBQ bet on UNC-USC game

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The flagship universities of each Carolina will clash tomorrow night on the gridiron. At stake is not only pride, but barbecue.

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and his South Carolina counterpart Gov. Nikki Haley have made a friendly wager on the UNC-USC game at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium that helps kick off college football season. The Republican leaders have agreed that the governor of the losing state will send a shipment of their state’s barbecue to the winner.

“There is no question that nothing compares to North Carolina barbecue,” Gov. McCrory said in a news release. “While I fully expect the Tar Heels to be victorious, if South Carolina wins the game Gov. Haley definitely gets the better end of the deal.”

Haley said in a statement she is already making dinner plans based on the outcome of the game.

“We realize we could get into a back and forth of smack talk with Gov. McCrory, but we consider him a friend and will let the players speak for themselves by way of the scoreboard,” she said.

Haley said she and her husband look forward to sharing some North Carolina barbecue with Gamecock coach Steve Spurrier and his wife.

Barbecue in the Carolinas not only varies by state, but by region. In addition to South Carolina’s traditional mustard-based sauce, North Carolina has its own intrastate battle between “Eastern” and “Western” barbecue. Because of that, Gov. McCrory has taken to social media to ask his fellow North Carolinians to help decide which version of North Carolina barbecue (or both) should be part of the wager.

Vote here to let the governor know your choice.