POINSETTIA BOWL - 12/19 at 7:00 CT on ESPN2

POINSETTIA BOWL: Official Website
HOTEL: Official NIU Poinsettia Bowl Headquarters
Preferred Bowl Hotels
Anthony Travel
FLIGHT PLANS:
WEATHER: San Diego Weather
BARS:
TAILGATING:

GAMEDAY: Seating Chart
GAMEDAY: Stadium FAQs
GAMEDAY: Stadium Information and Procedures
GAMEDAY: Parking Map
GAMEDAY: NIU Weekly Release/Depth Chart
GAMEDAY: TCU Weekly Release/Depth Chart

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FACTS:

Location: Forth Worth, TX

Founded: 1873

First Year of Football: 1896

All Time Football Record: 537-495-39

All Time vs. NIU: First Meeting

All Time vs. MAC: 2-0-1

Last Meeting vs. MAC: Tied WMU 17-17 at TCU

All Time Bowl Record: 8-13-1

Last Bowl: 2005 Houston Bowl 27-24 over Iowa St.

SWC Champs: 1929, '32, '38, '44, '51, '55, '58-'59, '94

WAC Champs: 1999-2000

Conference USA Champs: 2002

MWC Champs: 2005

National Champions: 1938 (11-0)

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

Garrett Wolfe Earns MAC's Vern Smith Leadership Award and Offensive Player of the Year Honors - Tailback is first Huskie since 1983 to earn Vern Smith Leadership Award

Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe was named by the Mid-American Conference Monday as its 2006 Vern Smith Leadership Award Recipient and as the Offensive Player of the Year.

"Obviously, this honor is very well deserved for Garrett," said head coach Joe Novak. "We're all very happy for him. He has had a great career for us, topped off with an outstanding senior year. "

The Daily Chronicle: BREAKING NEWS: Huskies accept invite to Poinsetta Bowl

Sources confirmed on Monday that the Northern Illinois football team has accepted an invitation to face TCU at the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 19.

The official annoucement will come at 11 a.m. on Tuesday via press conference. The bowl berth is the Huskies' second in the last three years.

Sports Illustrated: Bowl Projections

By virtue of its win over Middle Tennessee, Troy will now capture the Sun Belt title (assuming it beats 0-11 Florida International on Saturday) and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. NCAA rules state that a bowl can only offer an at-large berth to a 6-6 team if there are no other teams with winning records available. There are only going to be two at-large spots available, the Poinsettia and the Motor City, and one of those is now going to have to go to Middle Tennessee. The other will go to an extra team from the MAC, either Northern Illinois or Western Michigan, both of whom have winning records as well.

CBSSportsline.com: Bowl Predictions

Poinsettia Dec. 19 (MWC No. 2/3 vs. at-large):
TCU vs. Northern Illinois

ESPN.com: Bowl Projections

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia (Mountain West vs. At-large):
Utah vs. Northern Illinois - Ivan Maisel
TCU vs. Northern Illinois - Mark Schlabach

The Fort Worth Star Telegram: Sources: Frogs to face NIU

Officials with the Poinsettia Bowl are expected today to select TCU for its Dec. 19 game in San Diego, and sources said that the Horned Frogs' opponent will be Northern Illinois.

MAC Report Online: Northern Illinois Headed to Poinsettia Bowl - Likely To Face Texas Christian in San Diego

As Saturday's games progressed, the remaining teams on the Poinsettia Bowl's radar lost as Kansas (6-6) fell to Missouri and Oklahoma State (6-6) lost to rival Oklahoma. Another possibility for a Poinsettia Bowl berth fell to the wayside when Boise State (12-0) throttled Nevada. A loss by Boise State would have freed up San Jose State (6-4) from the WAC for an at-large slot but with Boise State qualifying for a BCS bowl game, San Jose State will now claim one of the WAC's aligned bowl slots.

The Beacon News: Wolfe sets record as Huskies pull upset

Garrett Wolfe has had some memorable performances in his Northern Illinois football career. Friday, he put down the exclamation point.

Wolfe, playing in his final game in Huskie Stadium, rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns as the Huskies kept their slim bowl hopes alive with a 31-10 upset win over Central Michigan.

The Chicago Sun-Times: Wolfe, Huskies burn CMU in MAC shocker

Will the real Northern Illinois Huskies please stand up?

In a season filled with more unpredictable bounces than a flat of sumo wrestlers at a mattress outlet store, the Huskies dug deep Friday night and upset Central Michigan 31-10 in front of 18,139 at Huskie Stadium.

The Daily Southtown: Northern Illinois 31, Central Michigan 10 - Wolfe gets back in gear

Wolfe ran for 203 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries in Northern Illinois' 31-10 victory over Central Michigan on Friday, but Horvath's season and college career was ended seven quarters prematurely because of a knee injury. He'll miss Northern Illinois' regular-season finale at Eastern Michigan next Friday, when the Huskies go for a seventh win in an effort to improve their slim chances at a bowl game.

The Chicago Tribune: Wolfe shines in his NIU home finale - Huskie becomes school's career rushing leader

This looked like the Northern Illinois people were talking about in August—a team looking to play in a bowl game. This was the Garrett Wolfe who was on the unofficial Heisman Trophy list.

Northern Illinois (6-5, 4-3) ended its home season on a high note Friday night, defeating MAC West Division champion Central Michigan 31-10.

The Daily Chronicle: Staying alive: Huskies hang on to bowl hopes with victory

The defending West champs took it personal on Friday night. The Huskies floored the newly-crowned West division title holder with an aggressive attitude on offense, defense and special teams. All three facets of the game worked in perfect harmony for the Huskies. Even the punt return and coverage teams had big plays, with Matt Simon returning a punt 40 yards and the punt team downing a ball on the 1-yard line in the third quarter.

Novak said Friday's win puts the Huskies back in the bowl hunt.

“I think there are still chances out there, we have to take care of business,” Novak said.

The Daily Chronicle: Wolfe highlights Senior Night

After shoulder and hamstring injuries limited Wolfe to just 190 yards and one touchdown in the last four games, Wolfe returned to form in a 31-10 victory over Central Michigan on Senior Night.

On a night when NIU's 14 seniors were honored prior to the game, Wolfe sliced through the CMU defense for 203 yards and three touchdowns.

The 5-foot-7, 177-pound back left the game in the fourth quarter to thunderous applause and chants of “Garr-ett Wolfe, Garr-ett Wolfe,” after breaking Michael “The Burner” Turner's career record of 4,941 rushing yards. Wolfe now has 4,972 yards in his career.

The Chicago Sun-Times: To go bowling, beat the champs - NIU needs win over C. Michigan for shot at postseason

Northern Illinois' 2006 season continues its dreary dog paddle to the finish pound tonight. A champion will play at Huskie Stadium -- only it won't be the Huskies.

Central Michigan, the surprise of the Mid-American Conference, steams into DeKalb with a newly entered West Division championship on its resume and a five-game winning streak. NIU will be playing for the faintest hope -- fear? -- of going to some dot-done bowl game.

The Chicago Tribune: NIU's Wolfe has target on back

Fame has taken a toll on Northern Illinois star tailback Garrett Wolfe, but not the kind generated by newspapers, radio and television.

Wolfe, still the top rusher in the country despite four sub-100 yard games, has been his opponents' focus of attention. Defenses have been designed to stop the Chicago senior and the result is some wear and tear on his 5-foot-8-inch frame that is listed carrying 177 pounds.

The Daily Southtown: Wolfe, NIU limp into finale

Wolfe has been banged up the last several weeks, suffering a hamstring pull and a damaged shoulder.

For someone who depends on quickness in cutting and in lowering his shoulder to punish a potential tackler, there aren't two more aggravating injuries to have.

As a result, Wolfe's effectiveness has been limited, if not completely stunted, and the Huskies have felt his diminished value.

Since his 353-yard game against Ball State on Sept. 30, he's totaled 352 yards in five games, and Northern Illinois has gone 2-3 in them.

The Beacon News: Curtain call? - Northern's 14 seniors ready for final home game

It will be the final opportunity for this year's 5-5 NIU team to beat a team with a winning record. The Huskies wrap up the season next Friday at Eastern Michigan (1-9). The team needs to win both to extend a streak of seven straight winning seasons and maintain its faint hopes of receiving a bowl bid.

The Beacon News: NIU's Wolfe a semifinalist in race for top running back

Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe is one of 10 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation's top running back.

The Midweek: Column: Say goodbye to the 2006 Huskies

The 2006 season, no doubt, will most likely be looked at as a disappointment. And this bad taste shouldn't be forgotten. But at the last home game (7:05 p.m. Friday against Central Michigan), don't feel like you've gone soft if you come to celebrate the seniors for all their years of service. As fans, we're unlikely to see such a player as Garrett Wolfe, an amazing talent who somehow conditioned the crowd to expect a 10-yard run. Celebrating the seniors isn't just for homers; it's for fans who appreciate that good times require so much and can be so fleeting.

The Central Michigan Life: Avoiding letdown crucial for CMU

“We want the 2006 football team to go down in the history of Division I-A as the best Central Michigan football team,” said coach Brian Kelly. “You don’t pull up just before the finish line. We have a chance to make a case to be the best team ever at CMU and that doesn’t come around often.”

The Northern Star: All Dutch

He's a physical kid; a tough sucker. Although not tall, a smart player.

But underneath the pitch-black helmet and blood-red jersey, senior safety Dustin Utschig is a little less tough than NIU football coach Joe Novak makes him out to be.

"I like being peaceful and out on the water," Utschig said. "Golfing and fishing are two things I want to do the rest of my life."

CENTRAL MICHIGAN - 11/17 AT 7:05 on ESPNU

This week NIU (5-5, 3-3 MAC) takes on the Central Michigan Chippewas (7-3, 6-0 MAC). The chances for a conference championship are long gone. Now we have to focus on finishing over .500. The Huskies have finished over .500 for six straight years and they'll have to win their last two games to do it this year. It's also Senior Night so we should be in the stadium early to show our appreciation for Wolfe and Free. This senior class currently has a 31-15 record, played for the conference championship and won the Silicon Valley Bowl game.

The game is at 7:05 so the tailgate lot will open at 2:00. The general parking lots will open at 3:30. Be at Fatty’s by 1:45 if you're parking in the tailgate area. Otherwise, park in the general lots after 3:00 and find us in the Cardinal lot.

WEATHER: DeKalb Weather

TAILGATING: Meet at Fatty's by 1:45. Otherwise, see the Football Parking Map to find the Cardinal Lot.

GAMEDAY: NIU Game Preview and Depth Chart
GAMEDAY: Central Michigan Game Notes

CENTRAL MICHIGAN FACTS:

Nickname: Chippewas

Location: Mount Pleasant, MI

Founded: 1892

First Year of Football: 1896

All Time Football Record: 540-341-36

All Time vs NIU: 21-19

Last meeting (2005 at CMU): NIU 31-28

Streak: NIU has won eight in a row

CENTRAL MICHIGAN LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

Toledo pictures are posted

Toledo Pictures

The Chicago Sun-Times: NIU looks to avoid Toledo's fate

If Northern Illinois loses to Toledo, the Huskies' hopes of repeating as West Division champions in the Mid-American Conference are kaput. Even if the Huskies win, the road remains twisting and improbable, as unlikely as Babe the Blue Ox inking hoof-graphs at Courthouse Square in Sycamore

The Chicago Tribune: Rested Huskies face old nemesis - Wolfe gets national showcase vs.Toledo

The Huskies have had 10 days to heal from their non-conference loss at Iowa. They will also get a chance to showcase tailback Garrett Wolfe on ESPN2 before a national audience. NIU will have another 10-day hiatus before its final home game with Central Michigan.

The Toledo Blade: Wolfe at UT’s door: Rockets face Northern star, who has been in decline

One month ago, Garrett Wolfe was all but being measured for his tuxedo. You know, the one he’d wear at the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York City.

Barely bigger than the statuette atop the trophy, Wolfe was being hailed as college football’s premier running back. He had 1,303 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing after six games. He was only the ninth player all-time to reach 1,000 yards in his first five games.

The Courier News: Northern Illinois ready for Toledo trickery

"They're capable of running trick plays at any moment," Northern Illinois senior safety Dustin Utschig said last week as he and his teammates prepared for tonight's nationally televised (ESPN2, 6:30 p.m.) game at home against the Rockets.

Already this season Toledo has converted 19 of 32 fourth-down plays. In contrast, their opponents have made 9 of 13. Coach Joe Novak's Huskies have converted 8 of 14 and NIU foes 7 of 12.

TOLEDO - 11/7 at 6:35 on ESPN2

This week NIU (5-4, 3-2 MAC) takes on the Toledo Rockets (3-6, 1-4 MAC). There's still a small chance the Huskies can win the division and go to the MAC Championship game but they can't afford to lose another game this season. The Huskies lost eleven straight to Toledo before winning last year's game. They have never beaten the Rockets two seasons in a row.

The game is at 6:35 so the tailgate lot will open at 1:30. The general parking lots will open at 3:00. Be at Fatty’s by 1:15 if you're parking in the tailgate area. Otherwise, park in the general lots after 3:00 and find us in the Cardinal lot.

WEATHER: DeKalb Weather

TAILGATING: Meet at Fatty's by 1:15. Otherwise, see the Football Parking Map to find the Cardinal Lot.

GAMEDAY: NIU Game Preview and Depth Chart
GAMEDAY: Toledo Game Preview and Depth Chart

TOLEDO FACTS:

Location: Toledo, OH

Founded: 1872

First Year of Football: 1917

All Time Football Record: 450-368-24

All Time vs NIU: 26-7

Last meeting (2005 at Toledo): NIU 35-17

TOLEDO LINKS:

Football Website

Roster

Schedule/Results

Season Statistics

WEEK 1: Iowa State Edges Rockets, 45-43 in Triple-OT

WEEK 2: Rockets Lose To Broncos In MAC Opener

WEEK 3: Key Turnover Propels Rockets Over Jayhawks in Overtime Thriller, 37-31

WEEK 4: Toledo Handles McNeese St., 41-7

WEEK 5: Rockets Fall on Road to Panthers

WEEK 6: Rockets Downed at Home Against Central Michigan

WEEK 7: Rockets Fall on the Road at Kent State

WEEK 8: Toledo Drops Narrow 17-13 Decision to Eastern Michigan

WEEK 9: Toledo Beats Akron 35-20 For First MAC Win

Iowa pictures are posted

Iowa Pictures