Mayor Wins Trees In Bowl Bet

When the University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane defeated Bowling Green University in the GMAC Bowl earlier this month, they won not only the game, but also a wager made by the Tulsa and Bowling Green mayors. The News On 6's Rick Wells reports the gambling debt will be paid off not in beef or BBQ sauce, but in something Tulsa needs: trees.

The final score was 63-7. TU Quarterback Paul Smith set records and the final score made the game the biggest blowout in bowl history.

Mayor Taylor says she gave careful consideration to what would be riding on the game.

"Well, I thought another beef BBQ basket wasn't what we needed. What we needed was trees," said Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor.

Considering the ice storm and all the damage to trees, it seems logical to bet a dozen trees.

Maureen Turner, the Tulsa Parks Department horticulturist, says we were given choices of trees that would do well in Tulsa.

"We were given 11 different trees we could select from. We chose five of those different selections," said Maureen Turner.

Tulsa will be getting four Chinese Pistache, two Chrimsonspire Oak, two European Hornbeam, two Princeton Sentry Ginkos, and two Mushashino Zelkovas.

The trees will be delivered from an Oregon tree nursery later this spring. By then, a location for each tree will have been selected, and the prep-work done so the trees can be planted when they arrive.