Stateline Fans Weigh-In on Packer Game Debacle

ROCKFORD - It's sparked a national debate and it all has to do with football.  The botched call by replacement NFL referees at the Packers-Seahawks game last night has everyone spewing outrage.  People here in the Stateline were all talking about it and couldn't believe it.

Football fans at Boomer's Sports Bar & Grill in Rockford were weighing in on the debacle.

"A lot of upset Packer fans in here last night," said Perry Dalip, co-owner of Boomers.

"I'm a Bear fan, and it's always nice to see the Packers lose but as a true football fan... very disappointed," said Dalip.

"Look at the Packers last week at the Bears game," said Felicia Fick, a Packers fan.  "Look at how wonderful they did.  Last night we should have clenched it, unfortunately I don't know why they went ahead and made that call but definitely very sad about it."

Even die-hard Bears fans couldn't help but saying the call was unjust.

"The reffing was a little shaky," said Jake Giagnoni, right before saying "GO BEARS!"

Social media was all lit up with people expressing their anger.  Comments about the game were plastered all over Facebook on Monday night into Tuesday.  On Twitter, the Packers, NFL & Roger Goodell were all trending nationwide.

Professional athletes had to use Twitter to vent as well.  LeBron James tweeted:

@KingJames  - "These replacement refs gotta go man!! Packers just got game took from them. I LOVE NFL football to much to see this type of work."

Golfer Bubba Watson drew some attention to Illinois with this tweet:

@bubbawatson - "All @nfl fans watch the Ryder Cup this week, we got no refs. #USA."

The most upset fans however were those in Green Bay.  Some of them were so ticked off they took their words and picket signs outside Lambeau Field.  Signs read things like, "We got robbed in Seattle."

The Packers/Seahawks debacle even reached the presidential race.  President Obama said, "We need our refs back."  Vice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan was quick to compare the replacement referees to President Obama.