That Aaron Rodgers did not get a final opportunity to pull off another final drive victory on Sunday was demoralizing for Green Bay Packers fans. For the Chico, California native, it had to be just as frustrating not to be able to display two-minute heroics in front of a home-state audience that has witnessed Rodgers’ success at all levels.
Even in college, Rodgers propelled a Cal Golden Bears team to a 4-2 record against intrastate rivals USC, UCLA, and Stanford during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Rodgers’ performance before he was replaced due to injury in a three-overtime win over Southern California in 2003 was during the height of the Trojan dynasty and it was USC’s only loss of the season.