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Yes, Houston officials had invited him to campus, but as an unpaid consultant to give them ideas about a once powerful program gone to seed. Yes, it was the closest Osborne had come to looking outside of Nebraska at his old profession since "retiring" on Dec. 10, 1997.

But no, Osborne wasn't interested in coaching. At least not at Houston.

The truth is it might be time to change Osborne's retirement to a resignation. The further truth is the legendary Nebraska coach wants back into coaching. Whether he'll ever work his sideline magic again is another matter.

But at least now, the desire is public.

"I miss coaching," Osborne told the Omaha World-Herald last week. "There are times I've been tempted (to return). But I won't find anyone with great enthusiasm for that in my family. I probably won't do it, unless I start climbing the walls."

Insiders are saying Osborne is beginning to sharpen his fingernails for an attempt on some unsuspecting drywall. Call it the Lou Holtz Syndrome. Legendary coach achieves all he can achieve. He then retreats to a satisfying life of wife, home and happiness awaiting induction into the Hall of Fame.

But the bug never dies. With Holtz, the coaching jones was so strong he took the South Carolina job a year ago this month despite a wife who was battling cancer. Sensing her husband's desire, Beth Holtz actually gave her Lou her blessing to return.

It became apparent how badly Holtz was bitten by the bug. With his wife still fighting cancer throughout a winless Gamecock season, his desire never dimmed. He vowed to stick it out.

One 62-year-old back in the game, another 62-year-old thinking about it. In both cases, two years away from coaching was a critical juncture.

"Somebody told me that the second year after you retire is harder than the first," Osborne said. "I didn't believe it at first. But it was."

When he retired, Osborne thought his time could be occupied teaching a class at Nebraska and running his successful mentoring program. Was he wrong?

"I miss the players and the coaches," Osborne told the World-Herald last week while in Orlando, Fla. accepting a coach of the decade award during the college football awards show. "I miss the strategy, the competition. I didn't think I would. But you don't compete every day. It's not bad. It's just not the same."

Wow. The ominous part of those tantalizing quotes is that Osborne is used to getting what he wants. While at Nebraska, he was one of those coaches who was arguably more powerful than the chancellor. One of the few times he didn't get his way was when current athletic director Bill Byrne was hired over an inside candidate.

That was seven years ago. Since then, Osborne fought the ultimate war -- winning three national championships -- before suddenly shutting off the faucet two years ago. In the process, Osborne went from the best-coach-not-able-to-win-the-big-one to, simply, the best coach.

Tom Osborne is itching to get back on the sidelines. (AP)

"I remember playing Tom in 1993," Florida State coach Bobby Bowden said. "Me and him were the oldest coaches who had never won a national championship. One of us was fixing to get one. We got it. I felt so sorry for Tom, but I don't feel so sorry for him anymore, because he won three out of the next four years."

Osborne, rightfully, was able to hand-pick successor Frank Solich. How does Solich feel now that Osborne has made his feelings public? Solich is just starting to get the hang of the head coaching thing, winning a Big 12 title in his second season. He has gotten off to a better start, in fact, than Osborne in his first two seasons.

But another four-loss season matching Solich's debut in 1998 could send the fans screaming for Osborne's return.

"I just get that impression (that Osborne wants to coach again)," a source close to Osborne told SportsLine. "He's not a desk guy ... When he retired, I said, 'You know I hope he goes back and coaches at Nebraska Wesleyan or Hastings (Neb.) College or coaches Pop Warner for his grandson instead of taking the Michigan State job and trying to build a winner again.'"

That's the ultimate question. If Osborne does come back, at what level will it be? Osborne denies the rumors that he has contacted about being the coach of the new Houston NFL expansion franchise. He admits being contacted by "a couple of people" but would not reveal which schools.

A return to Nebraska might be too messy and too uncomfortable. It would be hard to go home again. By his mere presence, Osborne could lift some Division II or I-AA program to national prominence.

What kid wouldn't want to play for such a noble gentleman?

The perfect setting might be a place like Kansas, a I-A school trying to build a program and willing to hire a living legend in the autumn of his years. South Carolina did much the same thing with Holtz.

There is no reason Kansas or South Carolina shouldn't have a decent football program. South Carolina, in the heart of SEC territory, has won one bowl game in its 105-year history. Kansas football has been overshadowed by Kansas basketball forever. It is the state school, and frankly, prominent boosters are sick of being beaten senseless by Kansas State.

With Kansas bordering Nebraska, it is close to home. Osborne is a big reason the Jayhawks haven't beaten the Huskers in 30 years. Think of it as a way Osborne could pay back his Big 12 brethren. But that's getting way ahead of the story.

Kansas has a coach (Terry Allen) and Osborne has his aspirations.

Whatever they might be.