The North Carolina-Oregon State rematch is generating quite a bit of interest, and not just in college baseball circles. Even the respective heads of state are getting into it–take a look at the press release issued by the office of North Carolina governor Mike Easley:

Gov. Mike Easley bet Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski that the UNC Tar Heels baseball team will beat the Oregon State Beavers to win the 2007 NCAA College World Series. At stake is one pound of barbecue, one bottle of barbecue sauce and one pint of slaw from both Wilber’s Barbecue of Goldsboro and the Barbecue Center Inc. of Lexington and a case of Cheerwine. Kulongoski has countered the wager with an offer of a basket of products made in Oregon including a sampling of Pacific seafood, local cheeses, craft beer and hazelnuts.

“A beaver cannot get past a fox, certainly not twice,” Easley said. “I am confident UNC coach Mike Fox and his team will make sure the Tar Heels bring the national championship to North Carolina.”

“If I was from the Tar and Turpentine State, I’d be scared–given the way our Beavers are clear cutting their way through the tournament,” said Kulongoski, noting that the term “tar heel” originated in reference to North Carolina’s tar and turpentine industry. “Pat Casey has done an incredible job keeping this Beaver team at the top of the college game and I’m looking forward to a barnstormer of a rematch this weekend. Timberrrrrrrrrrrrr! Go Beavs!”