Chargers' RBs will have special interest in bowl game

It was one of the first things Northern Illinois football coach Joe Novak thought of when he found out his Huskies were going to play Texas Christian in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.

"It is kind of ironic," he said Tuesday.

The most famous football alums from each school are running backs LaDainian Tomlinson and his backup, Michael Turner. Both play for the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the Poinsettia Bowl.

"I'm sure those two will have some chatter about it," Novak said of the matchup. "Hopefully we can get Michael out to a practice to talk to our football team."

The Chargers will play host to Kansas City at Qualcomm, two days before the NIU-TCU matchup.

NIU, of course, is led by senior running back Garrett Wolfe, who leads the nation in rushing and recently eclipsed Turner's school career rushing record.

Tomlinson left TCU a year early and was a first-round pick (5th overall) in the 2001 draft. Turner was a fifth-round pick (154th) in the spring of 2004.

He's eligible for free agency after this season and could end up being the featured back for another team since San Diego isn't likely to be able to afford him. Tomlinson, the best running back in the league, is already locked in with a long-term deal.