Carroll arrived in 2001, and needed just one season to return USC to college football’s elite.

The former NFL coach is a defensive guru, and it wasn’t a surprise that he transformed USC’s defense into a snarling, stifling juggernaut. His pro-style offense, meanwhile, energized the Trojans and made them tons of fun to watch, for fans and recruits alike.

But it’s Carroll’s personality that has made the greatest impact. The coach is the epitome of California cool, a laid-back guy who is living the dream and loving every minute of it, and his teams reflect that. Even after losses, his players don’t appear robotic or defeated, as the Irish did last weekend.

College football may be a multibillion dollar business, but Carroll never forgets a game is at the center of it all. How many other coaches would invite Snoop Dogg to their practices, let alone let the rapper run drills?

“I know in the years we’ve been here, this last run, the perspective of the country has changed a little bit about us,” Carroll said. “People are much more familiar with us. We’re able to be openly received anywhere we go around the country for the most part because they’ve watched us or they’ve heard of us. They’ve given themselves a chance to figure out what USC football is about.”

That’s winning. A lot.

Since 2002, the Trojans have lost a measly nine games; Notre Dame lost that many last season alone. They won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, and played for another in 2005.

That rivalry with Notre Dame? The Trojans have won six straight, including a 38-0 rout last year that was USC’s largest margin of victory in the rivalry’s history. They could top that Saturday — the Trojans are four-touchdown favorites.

Though USC is a long shot for the national title this year as one of six one-loss teams behind unbeaten Alabama, it is on track for a BCS bid and another top-five finish.

Oh, and the Trojans will be right up there again next year. Carroll doesn’t recruit talented players so much as he stockpiles them. Quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, linebackers — no sooner does one first-round-caliber player leave, and there’s another right there to take his place.

“I believe they honestly have as much talent on their team right now as some NFL teams,” Lemming said. “They’ve got All-Americans sitting on the bench at every position, and they’re happy to do it.”

Still, Notre Dame is Notre Dame. As bad as things are right now, the Irish have endured tough cycles before and emerged as popular — and successful — as ever.

And, as Weis’ recent recruiting classes have shown, difference-makers and phenoms still want to play for the Irish.

“It’s the only national brand of college football,” said Pat Haden, who led USC to two national championships and now does Notre Dame broadcasts for NBC.

“USC has had a phenomenal run of excellence the last seven, eight years under Pete Carroll,” Haden said. “But I don’t think anyone’s going to displace Notre Dame as college football’s institutional brand.”

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