DeKALB | To quote Ron Burgundy, “San Diego; in German it means…”, well you get the picture.

But for NIU, San Diego means the location of the Huskies third bowl appearance in school history.

NIU Athletic Director Jim Phillips officially announced at a press conference Tuesday that the Huskies will end the 2006 season against Texas Christian University (9-2) in the Poinsettia Bowl at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Qualcomm Stadium. The contest will be televised nationally on ESPN2.

The bowl announcement comes after weeks of speculation and unofficial reports about where NIU would play.

Coming off two straight victories against Central and Eastern Michigan, NIU coach Joe Novak knew his team had a shot at a bowl. Plus the chances were also improved by running back Garrett Wolfe, who leads the country in rushing with 158.3 yards per game.

“When you have No. 1 in your backfield, he sells it for you,” Phillips said. “That certainly resonated with not only the San Diego County Poinsettia Bowl, but other bowls around the country.”

The bowl game is the last time Wolfe and 13 other seniors will put on their pads as Huskies (7-5). Two of those seniors hope to be returning from injury in time to play a final game for NIU.

Cornerback Alvah Hansbro, who suffered a torn right biceps tendon, went to visit his doctor on Tuesday. Novak said he would have an idea if Hansbro could play by next week. Tight end Jake Nordin, who broke his left leg, is more questionable. Novak said his return will be a game-time decision.

The Poinsettia Bowl is the first of the 2006-2007 bowl season and one of four bowl games featuring teams from the MAC. MAC West champions Central Michigan will be playing in the Motor City Bowl, MAC East champions Ohio will head south for the GMAC Bowl and Western Michigan will play in the inaugural International Bowl.

NIU was helped by a new NCAA rule to gain the open at-large bid. The NCAA now mandates that teams with a 6-6 record cannot be picked for bowls outside of automatic tie-ins if there are other programs with a better record.

“You can play four cupcakes, win two games in your league, and go two and six, and then say you’re a bowl team,” Novak said. “To me, that’s not being a bowl team.”

NIU will celebrate the bowl bid prior to the men’s basketball game on Saturday afternoon from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. at the Convocation Center. Members of the Poinsettia Bowl committee, Novak and football players will be in attendance.