Despite the moronic predictions of an Notre Dame blowout by most of the media and even the generally savvy Vegas bookies, there was no way last Saturday's tilt was going to be anything but a tight and close tussle.

For those who cared to look, all the signs pointed to a highly competitive struggle with the outcome by no means a sure thing.

This was a game destined to be a battle from start to finish. This would be no gimme.

Anyone with half a brain could see that the Bruins were a scrappy bunch who hardly qualified as pushovers. To the keen observer, there was no doubt that UCLA would come to play and play hard.

As mentioned above, all the indicators dictated that the Domers would be put to the test. The Irish would have their hands full.

To begin with, UCLA always seems to be armed with plenty of gifted athletes. Not having talent is rarely an issue with the Bruins.

Secondly, UCLA brought with it a stout defense, statistically one of the best in the country. Justin Hickman, Bruce Davis and Kevin Brown are studs on the defensive line and Christian Taylor is one heck of a linebacker.

Moreover, the fellas from Westwood were highly motivated. Owners of a solid but somewhat disappointing 4 and 2 record, the Bruins were hungry for a signature win.

There were searching for validation and a chance to prove their worth. UCLA was determined to show that they could compete with anyone and what better way to do that then to come into South Bend and skin the Domers.

Returning to California with an Irish pelt in their possession would have been a real coup for the Bruins. For UCLA, the tilt against ND represented a statement game.

Another key but somewhat overlooked aspect concerning the UCLA-ND match-up was the possible rust factor.

The Irish were coming off a bye week and in that circumstance, there's always the possibility a team could lose its' edge and go a bit stale. Just ask the Detroit Tigers.

Had the Irish cooled off since their notable performances against Purdue and Stanford? Charlie Weis knew it would be a real chore trying to maintain a momentum and flow having not played in some 14 days.

Finally, another piece of information that needed to be computed was the fact that the Uclans and ND had faced a common opponent in Stanford.

Interestingly, the Bruins' margin of victory (31-0) was greater and their win came on the road while the Irish had dispatched the Cardinal (31-10) at home.

Completely dismissing that bit of data was shortsighted and ignorant.

So it didn't take a genius to see that UCLA-ND was, more than likely, going to be a dogfight. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that it was exactly that and then some!

Competing with fire, heart and an intensity that truly impressed the Irish, UCLA was ready from the start and dictated much of the action. Fittingly, the Bruins played like agitated bears.

Their defense was particularly effective, stuffing ND's running attack and harassing Brady Quinn with five sacks not to mention plenty of hurries.

This was a game the visitors from Tinseltown were poised to win. It was within their grasp. They just needed to close the deal. A sweet victory and a measure of glory was there for the taking.

But at the 11th hour, that guy named Quinn intervened. In what is starting to become a pattern, the Irish quarterback rescued his team from a certain and devastating setback.

You may batter him, punish him and force him to scramble for his life but the one thing you can't do is to get him to give up. He'll never quit fighting. Why he's got more true grit than John Wayne.

And as he said in the game's aftermath, as long as there aren't three zeroes showing on the scoreboard, Quinn firmly believes he and his team can find a way to emerge victorious.

On Saturday, that belief was reinforced once again. Left with 1:02 on the clock and needing to drive a lengthy 80 yards, Quinn was more than up for the challenge.

Hell, he didn't even need the full 1:02.

How does 35 seconds grab you?

In that brief but breathtaking amount of time, Quinn rolled out twice, stepped-up and pump-faked once and fired three times. The result was a trio of clutch completions, the last of which was a 45-yard connection with the electrifying Jeff Smardzija whose remarkable run after the catch has now become part of Irish lore.

So with a touch of magic, a dose of luck and the determined efforts of saviors Quinn and Smardzija, the Irish avoided a Bruin ambush.

On the brink of a catastrophic upset, the Domers used some fancy footwork late to keep their BCS hopes alive.

The trap game had ensnared them for much of the afternoon but at the end, the Irish managed to wiggle free. ND had courted disaster but found a lifeline just in the nick of time.

And make no mistake, this was a must-win situation for the Irish.

Of the two L.A.-based teams the Irish will play this season, need we mention the other, topping UCLA was an imperative.

No way Weis and crew can reach their goal for a special season if a setback to the Bruins is on the books.

Two losses at this stage of the year spells doom for any lofty Irish ambitions.

Sure, besting USC would be monumental and noteworthy but the truth be told, falling to the Trojans wouldn't ruin ND's campaign.

The same can't be said if ND had succumbed to UCLA. Had that happened, the Irish season would have been irreparably scarred and damaged. There would be no making up for such a stumble.

That's why the UCLA game loomed so large. Nothing short of victory would suffice.

And the Irish did find the winner's circle although it took everything they had. Their fingernails are probably chewed down to the nub after eking out a 20-17 decision.

Despite what the prognosticators had predicted, the Bruins distinguished themselves. They gave as good as they got. They pushed the Irish to the limit.

Yet, in the end, ND wouldn't be denied. The Irish evaded the trap and secured a pivotal victory.  But it was ever so close. And nobody knows that better than the Irish !