A trip to the San Diego Zoo, an afternoon of go-karting at the Miramar Speed Circuit and a luncheon on the USS Midway — it’s hard to remember that the NIU football team will be playing a football game while in San Diego.

But a five-day trip will culminate with NIU’s third bowl appearance since becoming a Division I-A program. The Huskies (7-5) will play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 7 p.m. against Texas Christian University (10-2) at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2, and will be the first bowl game of the 2006-2007 season.

NIU running back Garrett Wolfe only needs to run for another 15 yards to tie the single-season MAC record set by former Huskie Michael Turner.

But Wolfe will have to gain those yards against the nation’s No. 4 rushing defense. For reference, the senior rushed for 25 yards against No. 5 Western Michigan.

But NIU receiver Britt Davis feels the offense has come together since the performance against WMU.

“I think, just like we’ve been doing over the last couple of games, we have to play as a whole, as a unit,” Davis said. “We just need to come out with a high intensity and up-tempo offense to get these guys off balance.”

But that will be easier said than done, as TCU holds the No. 17 offense in the nation. Horned Frogs quarterback Jeff Ballard has completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 2,136 yards and 12 touchdowns. TCU also holds a ground attack which is averaging 194 yards per game.

NIU linebacker Tim McCarthy believes a unified defense, which has improved game by game over the season, is ready for the task.

“I’m a firm believer that successful people in life are having fun with what they are doing,” McCarthy said. “I really believe that as a defense throughout the season we’ve been able to build a bond together.”