COLUMBIA, S.C. -- South Carolina coach Lou Holtz insists he's not a candidate to return to Notre Dame as its football coach and recommended his son instead.

Holtz admitted, though, "I can't say no to anything."

Notre Dame contacted Holtz on Saturday, seeking advice on what coaches it might pursue after George O'Leary was forced to resign for lying on his resume five days after taking the job.

Holtz, speaking publicly for the first time since he talked with his old school, said Wednesday he wasn't in the running to return to Notre Dame, where he coached for 11 seasons and won the last national championship for the Irish in 1988.

"I'm not a candidate," Holtz said at a news conference as his team prepared to meet Ohio State in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan 1. "Nobody's called me from Notre Dame, talked to me or anything."

But after O'Leary resigned Friday, Holtz's name was raised as a possible replacement.

Holtz said he told his wife, Beth, and Gamecocks athletic director Mike McGee that "we haven't accomplished everything we want here. We have a lot of things to do."

But "I can't say no to anything," said Holtz, who often leaves the door open for other opportunities. "I plan on being here. I'm very happy here."

Holtz wouldn't say whether Notre Dame had contacted him since Saturday.

South Carolina athletic department spokesman Kerry Tharp said Notre Dame hasn't contacted Gamecock administrators for permission to talk to Holtz.

Asked whom he recommended, Holtz said, "I told them Skip is probably the best coach in the country."

Skip Holtz, the coach's son and offensive coordinator at South Carolina, left a head coaching job with Connecticut three years ago to join his father.

Holtz said he hated that rumors had started and told his team Tuesday he was not going anywhere. All he did, he said, was advise Notre Dame about several potential coaches.

"There's nothing on my part and there's nothing on Notre Dame's part," he said.

Holtz left the Fighting Irish after the 1996 season, saying it was likely the last coaching job he would ever have.

But two years later Holtz was coaxed from the TV analyst chair to revive South Carolina. His touch has again proved successful. The Gamecocks (8-3) are playing their second straight New Year's Day bowl for the first time ever. A victory over the Buckeyes would give South Carolina its winningest two-year stretch in 108 seasons of football.

Holtz, who'll turn 65 next month, said he didn't expect to leave what he's built here -- even for Notre Dame.

"I had 11 wonderful years at Notre Dame," Holtz said. "It's a wonderful school. They'll have no problem finding an outstanding coach. I have no qualms about that at all."