HOUSTON -- First, Grant Wistrom got some bad news. Then came the good news.

The man Wistrom called a father figure, Nebraska coach Tom Osborne, announced his retirement Wednesday, just hours before the Cornhuskers' defensive end won the Lombardi Award as the nation's top collegiate lineman.

Wistrom becomes Nebraska's fourth Lombardi winner and first since Dean Steinkuhler in 1983. (AP)

It was a bittersweet day for Wistrom, who was pleased with his trophy, but sad to see Osborne calling it a career after two national titles and 254 victories in 25 years.

"I was upset. I mean, the man meant the world to me the last four years," Wistrom said. "He praised me when I needed praise and he scolded me when I needed scolding. He's been a father to me away from my own father. Next to my father, I respect him the most."

OSBORNE'S FINAL GAME WILL BE in the Orange Bowl when the No. 2 Cornhuskers meet the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers in what could become a game the national championship, should No. 1 Michigan lose in the Rose Bowl.

It's something the Cornhuskers will be thinking about, winning one last game and possibly a national title for Osborne.

"He's going out on a currently undefeated season, and hopefully it will remain undefeated," Wistrom said. "It would be a shame if we slip up now in light of all this.

"I'm sure by the time the ball game rolls around, the shock will have worn off. I'm sure that we'll be especially emotionally ready to play."

WISTROM BEAT OUT GREG ELLIS OF North Carolina, Andy Katzenmoyer of Ohio State and Andre Wadsworth of Florida State for the 28th annual trophy, named in honor of former Green Bay and Washington coach Vince Lombardi.

"You look at every one of the players here tonight, and each one is on a great football team," Wistrom said. "The reason we are on a great football team is because of coach Osborne. He's a large part of why I've been fortunate to have won it."

Wistrom, the school's career leader in tackles for losses, became Nebraska's fourth Lombardi winner and the first since Dean Steinkuhler in 1983.

It's been an eventful past few days for Wistrom. On Monday, he was named Big 12 defensive player of the year for the second year in a row. On Sunday, he was in a highly publicized altercation at a pizza parlor in Lincoln and now has won the Lombardi.

WISTROM SAID HE WAS TICKETED FOR disturbing the peace when he stepped in to help a friend.

"It's unfortunate the pizza thing happened," he said. "I still maintain my innocence. I without a doubt did nothing wrong. It's unfortunate that I got a ticket and my name's is all over America."

Wistrom said he did not retaliate when he was struck and that he might "press charges against the other person."

Wistrom has no regrets that he returned for his senior year at Nebraska instead of turning pro.

"This season has been a dream come true," Wistrom said. ``We're 12-0 and in the Orange Bowl where we wanted to be. We still have realistic shot at playing for the national title. We've done everything that we can do."

"One of the most important things to me was that he came back to school," Osborne said. "We checked out the draft and found out he would be a first-round pick (last season). Most players would go to the pros, but he came back to school. You all may be happy about that, but I'm really happy."

ALL FOUR FINALISTS WILL BE A PART OF THE bowl season. North Carolina (10-1) will play Virginia Tech in the Gator Bowl, and Ohio State (10-2) and Florida State (10-1) will square off in the Sugar Bowl.

The Lombardi winner was selected in balloting by a nationwide panel of sports writers and broadcasters.

Osborne attended the dinner and spoke briefly during the award ceremony, taking a gentle dig at himself when commenting on master of ceremonies Art Donovan, a pro football lineman some 40 years ago.

"I played a few games against Art," Osborne said. "Anyone who ever played against Art is probably ready for retirement."