Tom Osborne right at home in new role

Something about Tuesday's press conference just seemed right.

There was Tom Osborne, 10 years after retiring with three national championships in his last four seasons, calmly explaining why he had retired: Illness and fatigue.

"The fans were sick and tired of me running it up the middle," he quipped.

Nebraskans in general and university chancellor Harvey Perlman in particular have a lot to be grateful to Tom Osborne for, regardless of what the coming months bring.

Whether or not he decides to keep on Bill Callahan and his West Coast offense, choose a coach who wants to return the program to Nebraska's old corn-fed ground game and revive the popular walk-on system, or defer the decision to the permanent athletic director, we should be thankful Tom Osborne agreed to ride to Big Red's rescue one more time.

Speaking of Big Red's glory days, former Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers is seeking a full pardon 37 years after being convicted of robbing a Lincoln gas station.

He's a partner in an Omaha sports bar project that will be unable to obtain a liquor license if he or any other convicted felon owns 25 percent or more of the business.

Rodgers, who starred in two national championships for the Huskers and played in the Canadian Football League and the NFL, plans to open Jets All Sports Bar. It's described as a family-friendly establishment that will hold community events and showcase memorabilia and photographs of prominent athletes and entertainers, including those with ties to the state.

His bid is complicated by a 1987 conviction in San Diego of assault and possession of a gun, in an incident involving a cable television repairman who was disconnecting service to his home. The assault conviction was reversed on appeal, but Rodgers spent three years on probation for the gun charge.

One could argue Rodgers is asking for -- and has already received -- special treatment because of his athletic prowess. That's always a legitimate issue for debate.

But we just hope there is more Husker glory, and soon, to be memorialized in Johnny Rodgers' new bar.