UConn fans celebrate Papajohns Bowl win

Hartford (WTNH) - Those who couldn't be at the UConn Papajohns.com Bowl game packed sports bars to watch the excitement unravel as the UConn Huskies beat South Carolina 20-7, Saturday.

It was a packed house at the Black Bear Saloon, in Hartford, where fans were filled with Husky pride.

It's where the Gilcrests are keeping it in the family.

"We actually met at UConn, got married a few years ago and have a baby UConn fan; hopefully we'll see him going to UConn later on," said Jill and Evan Gilcrest.

The Parakilas are also continuing a family tradition; they're a father and son team that follow the UConn program closely.

"I think that Randy Edsall brought this program to another level," said John Parakilas, a UConn fan. "He's really brought the program to another level that everyone wants it to be at."

But not everyone was rooting for UConn. A brave South Carolina fan, Keith Corena from Glastonbury, wore his red jersey with pride.

"I've been getting a lot of flack," said Corena. "A lot, a lot of flack."

He'll get a lot more flack with the big blow out like 20 to 7; his friends are making him paint his nails red as punishment for his loss.

Meanwhile, between UConn Huskies basketball and the football game, Saturday, the manager for the Black Bear Saloon said he is celebrating the turnout.

"Every year we look forward to being up here. Both football and basketball -- it brings a great crowd down here," said Stephen Deierlein, manager of Black Bear Saloon in Hartford. "The 'Bowl' business was phenomenal. It was a nice turnover, too, because we had basketball in the morning and then it turned to football in the afternoon; a nice transition into both."