SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Okay, it's a cliche, but maybe timing really is everything.

It began Friday night. First the team was a few minutes late arriving to the pep rally. Then, Saturday afternoon, the Irish made it to the edge of the tunnel, fired up to take the field. But before they could do that, though, they had to wait for the band, which was a tad late getting started with the fight song.

Of course, it's doubtful the Irish coaching staff was concerned about any of that. The team probably had its best week of practice. See, for coaches, winning six games in a row is worth a spot in the top ten. But getting college kids to put together three days of good, solid practice is priceless.

Tyrone Willingham may have a surplus of mantras, but lately he's taken to repeating just one -- "I hate bad football." With Pittsburgh -- one of the best teams the Irish has seen this season -- coming to South Bend, his team having its best week of preparation couldn't have come at a better time.

Neither could Carlyle Holiday's decision-making. Fans don't want to see him run. His O-linemen don't want to see him run. And his coach damn sure doesn't want to see him run. But on the first play of the second quarter, when Holiday pulled the ball down and ran, it was right decision at the right time. He picked up 12 and the Irish had a first down for the first time all day.

As for receiver Arnaz Battle. Well, he's already shown he knows what time it is. That's why on three plays in the second quarter, he re-established himself as the resident playmaker. And on the third play, he hammered home that point by getting extraordinarily freaky on fade route.

But it wasn't until 9:43 left in the game, when linebacker Courtney Watson felt it was really, you know, time. Said Watson,"Something just came over me." So he got hyped. While Pitt QB Rod Rutherford barked signals, Watson charged the line of scrimmage and screamed at him: "It ain't happening now!"

Said Watson, "I just knew the quarterback was gonna run the ball."

A second later, Rutherford proved him right by tucking the ball and doing just that. And two seconds after that, at just the right time, Irish safety Glen Earl put his facemask on the ball, forcing Rutherford to fumble.

Punctually speaking, a great performance all around. Well, for everyone but those two men in dark blazers who made their way to the sideline in the final seconds. Each wore a patch over his heart bearing the logo for the Nokia Sugar Bowl. They may have been a bit early.

Alan Grant, a senior reporter for ESPN The Magazine, is spending the season in South Bend. Look for his regular reports on ESPN.com. E-mail him at alan.grant@espn3.com