When the UF football team lost to the University of Tennessee in September, Alan Levine swallowed his pride.
The Florida Board of Governors member — and a three-time UF graduate — had lost a bet to the mayor of Johnson City, Tennessee.
The wager? The loser had to sing the other’s fight song.
So on Thursday, Levine attended a Johnson City commission meeting, threw on an orange jersey and white hat and belted out “Rocky Top,” a song Tennessee fans love and Gator fans love to hate.
Levine said he had to print out the words to the song because he didn’t know them.
Tonight, when Levine rejoins his fellow board members, he said he expects them to make fun of him.
“I think this Florida Board of Governors meeting has the potential to be very painful for me,” Levine said.
The original bet was made the year before when UF won, and David Tomita, the Johnson City Mayor and Tennessee alumnus, sang the UF fight song, he said.
“It is all in good fun,” Levine said. “A Gator always keeps his word.”
Next year, when the Tennessee Volunteers play the Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Levine and Tomita will each be hoping for two victories.
“It’s been a good, friendly wager for a few years,” Tomita said. “I hope Mr. Levine hasn’t sold his Tennessee gear yet.”
