Doesn’t it seem like everyone was watching the Indianapolis Colts put the final touches on the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI back in February?
Well, it is that time of year again as NFL training camps get set to kick off over the next week. Local fans will not have to drive far to see their San Diego Chargers hit the gridiron beginning next weekend.
San Diego, which had home field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs last season, fell by a 24-21 score to New England in the second round of the playoffs back in January, thus depriving local fans of a possible Super Bowl run.
This year’s squad will look to someone many consider to be the top running back in all of football, LaDainian Tomlinson, to lead the way. New head coach Norv Turner will direct quarterback Philip Rivers and the rest of the team, which looks to head to Phoenix in February for Super Bowl XLII.
Turner takes over for former head coach Marty Schottenheimer, who was fired not long after team executives said they would keep him.
Off-season moves for the team saw San Diego retain the services of offensive guard Kris Dielman, draft explosive wide receiver Craig Davis and say goodbye to linebackers Donnie Edwards and Randall Godfrey.
On the coaching side, the Chargers say goodbye to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who left to take the head coaching job in Miami, and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, now the head man in Dallas.
San Diego, which hosts Seattle (Aug. 12) and San Francisco (Aug. 30) in pre-season contests, begins summer training camp on Saturday, July 28, at Chargers Park. Formerly held in years past at UCSD, the camp will run until Aug. 22.
The Chargers have a pair of fields in back of the facility that offer fans a good view. In addition to bleacher seating, fans are welcome to bring their own beach chairs.
Due to the lack of available parking, select practices are open to the public and free of charge. The following times are tentative.
n Saturday, July 28, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Sunday, July 29, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Monday, July 30, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Tuesday, July 31, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 7 to 9:20 p.m. night practice
n Thursday, Aug. 2, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Friday, Aug. 3, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Qualcomm Stadium (Fan Fest)
n Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 7 to 9:20 p.m. night practice
n Friday, Aug. 10, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Thursday, Aug. 16, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
n Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007 3:30 to 6 p.m.
Chargers Park is located at 4020 Murphy Canyon Road, just west of I-15 between Aero Drive and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard.
For further information, visit www.chargers.com.