Two Days - Two Parties: Back to Back New Year's and Orange Bowl Celebrations

ROCKFORD - Stateline bars are packed Monday night to help usher in the New Year, and there are handfuls that will be popping tomorrow cheering on the NIU Huskies as they take on the FSU Seminoles at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.

Boomer's Bar in Rockford has jumped on the Orange Bowl train.  They're hosting a watch-party, putting the big game on their big screen and dozens of other televisions.

"This is great; they're in the Orange Bowl!  I mean this is a small school that's playing in the Orange Bowl," said Perry Dalip, co-owner of Boomer's.

It didn't take much for Dalip to latch onto the idea of a watch-party.  He says he himself is an Northern Illinois University alumnus and he says there's plenty of alumni in the Rockford area.

"There's a lot here and they keep coming out of the woodwork," said Dalip.

Dalip says the bar will have "Huskie Shot" specials as well as beer specials galore.  He even comments that if the Huskies bring home a win on Tuesday, they'll be breaking out the karaoke machine to celebrate.

"From a few years ago to what they've done now is incredible," said Dalip. 

"You know they just keep surprising everybody and it's a wonderful feat.  Everybody should take a look and be happy with what they've achieved."