In case you wondered if Aaron Rodgers is the type of person who holds grudges, the answer is yes.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback was the guest picker on ESPN College GameDay Saturday morning because the show was broadcast live from Lambeau Field ahead of the No. 5 LSU vs. Wisconsin matchup at 3:30 pm ET.
When the show got to the Texas-Notre Dame game portion of the gameday picks (this game is Sunday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC), it was an easy decision for Rodgers.
Rodgers’ simple reasoning for picking the Longhorns? “Because Mack Brown isn’t there anymore.”
Sure, lots of people — media and fans alike — have had fun at Brown’s expense over the last six years. Texas’ downfall happened on his watch, he stepped down and Charlie Strong took over. But what kind of beef could Rodgers possibly have with Brown (who works for ESPN)?
During Rodgers’ junior year at Cal in 2004, the Bears were ranked ahead of Texas in the AP Poll, which was then part of the BCS ranking formula. Brown publicly lobbied for voters to give the Longhorns the final at-large bid to the Rose Bowl, which knocked Cal — the Pac-10 runner-up with USC going to the national championship game — out. The Golden Bears were hurt in their final regular season game by only beating Southern Miss 26-16, while Texas beat Texas A&M 26-13. Both Texas and Cal had one loss, but the Bears were ahead in the poll.
So Brown did some politicking to voters and nine of the 65 AP voters switched Texas ahead of Cal after their respective final games.
Rodgers was furious.
“I thought it was a little classless how Coach Brown was begging for votes after the [Texas A&M] game,” Rodgers said at the time. “I think a team’s record and the way you play should speak for itself, and you shouldn’t have to complain about the BCS system.”
The AP pulled out of the BCS after 2004 and the Harris Interactive poll–a combination of former players, officials and media–replaced it. And in future years, the final regular-season ballots of Harris voters and coaches became public.
So that’s why Rodgers is cool picking the Longhorns to win again. And as a sidenote, Cal and Texas actually play each other this season in Week 3.
Kansas wide receiver LaQuvionte Gonzalez (1) catches a touchdown pass against Rhode Island.
Florida running back Mark Thompson (24) leaps over Massachusetts safety Tedrick Lowery (6) during the first quarter.
Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong (4) runs against Fresno State.
North Carolina running back T.J. Logan (8) dives for a touchdown against Georgia.
North Carolina defensive back Greg Ross is called for pass interference against Georgia wide receiver Reggie Davis (81).
Memphis defensive back Dontrell Nelson (10) breaks up a pass intended for Southeast Missouri State wide receiver C.J. Curry.
TCU running back Kyle Hicks (21) scores a touchdown against South Dakota State.
Texas A&M quarterback Trevor Knight (8) celebrates following his touchdown run in overtime.
USC wide receiver Darreus Rogers (1) makes a catch against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs with the ball during the second quarter against Kent State.
Southern Methodist running back Xavier Jones avoids a tackle to score a touchdown against North Texas.
Kentucky wide receiver Tavin Richardson (80) catches a pass while defended by Southern Mississippi linebacker D'Nerius Antoine.
Georgia running back Brian Herrien (35) dives for a touchdown against North Carolina.
North Carolina running back T.J. Logan (8) runs the ball while Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Maurice Smith (2) looks to make the tackle.
Wisconsin cornerback Derrick Tindal (25) and wide receiver Reggie Love (1) celebrate with fans after beating the LSU Tigers 16-14 at Lambeau Field.
Duke running back Jela Duncan (25) eludes N.C. Central defenders.
Richmond wide receiver Brian Brown (12) scores a touchdown in front of Virginia safety Kelvin Rainey.
Tulsa wide receiver Keevan Lucas hauls in a long pass as San Jose State safety Jeremy Kelly (1) defends.
Southeastern Louisiana running back Darius Durall (3) runs the ball as Oklahoma State safety Kenneth Edison-McGruder (3) defends.
Florida Atlantic running back Gregory Howell Jr. (9) carries the ball for a touchdown against Southern Illinois.
UC Davis cornerback Isiah Olave battles Oregon wide receiver Dwayne Stanford (88) for a pass in the second quarter.
The Wisconsin defense celebrates after stopping LSU on a fourth down during the second quarter.
Wisconsin linebacker Jack Cichy (48) reacts after stopping LSU running back Leonard Fournette short of a first down in the second quarter.
Wisconsin wide receiver Robert Wheelwright goes up for a pass during the second quarter against LSU.
Abilene Christian cornerback Jamar Mack tackles Air Force running back Jacobi Owens.
Miami defensive end Pat Bethel (93) blocks the punt of Florida A&M's Colby Blanton.
Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen (8) passes during the first half against Louisiana Tech.
Illinois defensive linemen Rob Bain and Dawuane Smoot (91) tackle Murray State running back Demetric Johnson.
Georgia defensive back Maurice Smith breaks up a pass intended for North Carolina wide receiver Ryan Switzer.
Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano (5) loses the football after getting hit by Washington defensive lineman Vita Vea.
Oregon defensive lineman Henry Mondeaux (92) celebrates sacking UC Davis quarterback Ben Scott.
Texas A&M Aggies defensive back Nick Harvey (1) cannot come up with the interception in front of UCLA Bruins wide receiver Eldridge Massington (82) during the second quarter at Kyle Field.
Illinois Fighting Illini running back Kendrick Foster (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Murray State Racers at Memorial Stadium.
Iowa Hawkeyes defensive lineman Parker Hesse (40) returns a fumble during the first quarter against the Miami (Oh) Redhawks at Kinnick Stadium.
Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) warms up prior to the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome.
Wisconsin Badgers running back Corey Clement (6) rushes with the football during the first quarter against the LSU Tigers at Lambeau Field.
Houston Cougars cornerback Howard Wilson (6) celebrates with teammates after the Cougars defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 33-23 at NRG Stadium.
Pittsburgh Panthers running back James Conner (24) scores on a four yard touchdown run against defensive back Rob Rolle (4) during the second quarter at Heinz Field.
South Alabama Jaguars head coach Joey Jones reacts after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. South Alabama won 21-20.
Virginia Tech Hokies defensive back Greg Stroman (3) celebrates after an interception during the second quarter against the Liberty Flames at Lane Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Noah Brown (80) catches a touchdown pass in front of Bowling Green Falcons defensive back Cameron Jefferies (18) during the first half at Ohio Stadium.
Washington Huskies wide receiver Chico McClatcher (6) reacts after catching a touchdown pass against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first quarter at Husky Stadium.
Navy Midshipmen quarterback Will Worth (15) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Fordham Rams at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
Oklahoma Sooners kick returner Joe Mixon (25) returns the opening kick off against the Houston Cougars in the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
West Virginia Mountaineers running back Rushel Shell (7) celebrates with West Virginia Mountaineers offensive lineman Colton McKivitz (53) and West Virginia Mountaineers wide receiver Jovon Durante (5) after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Milan Puskar Stadium.
Northwestern Wildcats running back Justin Jackson (21) dives for the end zone against the Western Michigan Broncos during the first quarter at Ryan Field.
Maryland Terrapins wide receiver D.J. Moore (1) gains yards after a catch against the Howard Bisons at Byrd Stadium.
Michigan Wolverines players take the field prior to the game against the Hawaii Warriors at Michigan Stadium.
Mississippi State Bulldogs players celebrate after a touchdown during the first quarter of the game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Davis Wade Stadium.
Houston Cougars quarterback Greg Ward Jr. (1) completes a pass against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) completes a pass to running back Samaje Perine (32) against the Houston Cougars in the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback J.T. Barrett (16) throws the football against the Bowling Green Falcons at Ohio Stadium.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Dedrick Mills (26) runs against the Boston College Eagles at Aviva Stadium.
Nevada wide receiver Jerico Richardson (84) takes a bow after catching a touchdown pass against Cal Poly.
Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau celebrates after the Buffaloes beat in-state rival Colorado State.
Stanford linebacker Joey Alfieri sacks Kansas State quarterback Jesse Ertz (16) during the fourth quarter.
The Baylor Bears take the field prior to their game against Northwestern State.
The Army Black Knights salute the cadets in the stands after a victory against the Temple Owls.
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