From Trussville Tribune staff reports
TRUSSVILLE –Josh Norman and D.J. Thorton both grew up in Trussville and later moved to the nearby communities of Locust Fork and Argo, respectively. Like most guys in the south, they follow college football and pull for their favorite teams. In a state divided, it should come as no surprise that one favored the Alabama Crimson Tide and the other rooted for the Auburn Tigers.
Over lunch at Applebees in Trussville a few weeks ago, the talk turned to last Saturday’s Iron Bowl match-up between Alabama and Auburn.
“I didn’t want to bet any money, but we decided we wanted to bet something on the game,” Norman, the Bama fan, said. “So we came up with the idea of the guy who lost wearing a dress during lunch hour on Chalkville Road.”
Choosing a spot on one of the busiest roads in Jefferson County between two major shopping centers, when traffic is guaranteed to to be heavy, turned a private friendly wager into and very public event.
Thorton, the Auburn fan, was up for the challenge and counted on his Tigers to pull the biggest upset of the college season. Norman was just as confident that the Crimson Tide would continue to roll right through Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“I went to the game,” Norman said. “I sent D.J. a text late in the game and told him to get ready to put on the dress. He said he would stick to his word.”
Norman accompanied Thorton to the agreed upon location on Monday in part to lend moral support and in part to enjoy the spoils of victory. For an hour, Thorton fulfilled his promise to the delight of passing motorists who honked their horns, laughed and waved.
“He was a good sport about it,” Norman said. “I stood on the side of the road in front of Chik-Fil-A while he stood on the median in the middle of the road with his sign and dress. It was pretty funny.”
What was on Thorton’s sign as he stood in the road? “I bet against Bama. Roll Tide.”