Bedford makes good on friendly wager

Sen. Roger Bedford sports an orange and blue eagle hat on the first day of the legislative session after he lost a friendly wager with Senate Majority Leader Del Marsh over this year’s Iron Bowl game.

By Bart Moss

For the FCT

It probably looked like a safe bet at the time, but strange things can happen in a matter of seconds that change the course of everything.

One second and a 109-yard field goal return for a touchdown altered the course of college football this past season.

One second vaulted Auburn into the Southeastern Conference Championship game and on into the BCS Championship game.

One second also caused one state senator to end up wearing the ugliest Auburn hat in existence.

Sen. Roger Bedford, a graduate of the University of Alabama, made a friendly bet with Senate Majority Leader Del Marsh, an Auburn University graduate, prior to this year’s Iron Bowl.

The terms of the friendly wager stated the loser would have to wear the opposing team’s hat on the opening day of the legislative session on the Senate floor and sing the team’s fight song.

So, when Adam Griffith lined up to attempt a 57-yard field goal, Bedford probably felt pretty comfortable he was going avoid embarrassment.  Then, in just one second, Bedford’s fortune changed, which is why, on Tuesday, he was on the Senate floor wearing an ugly orange and blue eagle hat and yelling “War Eagle”!

“I’m glad Roger was such a good sport,” Marsh said

“Auburn won fair and square,” Bedford said. “It took me a second to realize that.”