Mike Elko Sets the Record Straight on ‘Disappointment’ After Taking Over Jimbo Fisher’s Sinking Texas A&M

Did you ever think Mike Elko and the Aggies would be sitting at 8-3 this late in the season? Considering their history, it’s a fair question. Over the past couple of years, the Aggies have repeatedly stumbled when it mattered most. They wrapped up 2022 with a disappointing 5-7 record, missing out on bowl games entirely. When Elko took over as head coach in November 2023, he knew the challenge ahead. Still, he managed to steer the team to the Texas Bowl, though they fell short against Oklahoma State. Fast forward to the 2024 season, and Elko’s squad has undoubtedly made strides. They’ve fought hard and made most games count, but cracks have shown. Losses to Auburn and South Carolina highlight a recurring theme of falling short when the stakes are high. While the improvement is undeniable, those missteps remain a part of Elko’s evolving legacy with the Aggies.

On November 26, in a post-game conference of Texas A&M athletics, the head coach of Aggies revealed the cause of his disappointment, stating, “There’s always two levels in my brain right, and so the coaching me is extremely disappointed with the recent two games right, the two SEC games, and not getting the job done and have an opportunity and not getting it done, and so from a coaching perspective, like that stings just like it should and it stings like it should for the fans and the players and everybody.”

It only shows that Aggies head coach Elko is deeply sorry about the team’s recent defeats after they started the season undefeated. As the media portrays Elko as having two brains, the program has progressed under his direction. This year, they have the potential to qualify for the playoffs or maybe the SEC title game. Truly a significant accomplishment if you look at Texas A&M’s record under Jimbo Fisher over the past two years.

In case you didn’t know, Jimbo Fisher was sacked in Nov 2023, and Mike Elko stepped over in the offseason. Elko described Texas A&M’s precarious status at that time by saying, “The CEO part of me knows what this was when I took over.” In 2023, Jimbo Fisher led the Texas A&M to a 6-4 record. It appears that Texas A&M was in a declining state under Jimbo. However, the team’s current standing has improved with a 5-2 SEC record, and Elko said, “What we’ve done from a culture standpoint what we’ve done in terms of putting this thing back on a steady track heading back in an upward trajectory um getting this program back in a direction that we wanted to go so that we can ultimately get it where we want it to be.” But there’s still a mystery around the Aggies’ status prior to Mike Elko. 

How the Aggies were pictured before Mike Elko

Among Fisher’s accomplishments was a 4-3 conference record during the 2023 campaign. Despite significant investment and backing from the university, he was unable to secure a conference title or a position in the CFP, leaving his time at Texas A&M marked by lofty targets that were not fulfilled. The Aggies lost all three of their games against rated opponents this season, demonstrating their difficulties, especially in their inability to compete successfully against them.

They are not, however, out for the CFP or the title game. But keep in mind that the team must play the Texas Longhorns (10-1)—their fiercest opponent. According to Elko, the in-state rivalry game will split the crowd. The game will therefore be something you shouldn’t pass up. And it also marks the conclusion of Texas A&M’s regular season.