So they bet trees?

The mayors of Austin and College Station make a friendly bet before each Thanksgiving Day game between UT and Texas A&M. The Aggies didn't win the game, but I am quick to say they didn't loose. It was a hard fought game. The following is the letter College Station Mayor Ben White sent to the mayor of Austin:

December 18, 2009
The Honorable Mayor Lee Leffingwell
301 W. 2nd Street, 2nd Floor
Austin, Texas 78701
Dear Mayor Leffingwell:
Howdy and a hearty congratulations from Aggieland! On Thanksgiving Day, our Fightin' Texas Aggies gave your still-undefeated Texas Longhorns their greatest challenge of the season. Clearly, Quarterback Colt McCoy was looking very tired and vulnerable; unfortunately for the Aggies, time simply ran out before they could stage a complete comeback.

To settle our pre-game wager, the City of College Station proudly presents the City of Austin with 12 beautiful crape myrtles that not only represent the most-popular ornamental tree of our community, but also Texas A&M University's 12th Man tradition that symbolizes readiness for service and to help those in need. It's our hope that these crape myrtles help beautify what is otherwise a relatively flat and treeless city.

In closing, we look forward to the opportunity of repeating this wager in 2010 so Texas A&M and College Station may begin planting what certainly will become an urban forest consisting of sturdy oaks, courtesy of the City of Austin.

Our very best regards,
Ben White
Mayor - College Station, Texas

That's one hell of a well-written letter in my book.