Texas A&M’s head coach Mike Elko took the podium on Thursday morning during the final day of SEC Media Days this week. The annual event featured all 16 head football coaches and player representatives to give fans a closer look at what to expect during the upcoming 2024 campaign.
The Aggies are coming off a disappointing 2023 season, which ended with the firing of former head coach Jimbo Fisher, whose $76 million buyout left a bad taste in the mouths of everyone involved, outside of the man who will never have to work another day in his life if he so chooses.
However, after hiring Elko, who returns to College Station after serving as the program’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2021, success in the transfer portal and the recruiting trail represents a promising start in his hopefully long tenure. Spending his last two seasons as Duke’s head coach, Elko was named ACC Coach of the Year after the 2022 season while winning an impressive nine games last season.
With Intelligence, confidence, and an elite defensive background, Elko has all the makings of becoming an instant success, but as we all know, the results on the field are all that matters in the long run. Here is what he had to say among the national and local media during SEC Media Days.
The Athletic Department has never been stronger
“The current alignment at our university from president, athletic director to head football coach has never been stronger.”
Elko thanks SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey
“I want to thank Commissioner Sankey for the leadership he provides for the conference. Under his leadership, the SEC has established itself as the premier conference in the country, not just for football but across all sports.”
Elko on focusing on player’s ongoing mental health hurdles
It is a challenging time for our student-athletes.”
“We cannot lose sight of the fact that they’re still 18-21 years old and still in the developmental stage of their lives. … It can be a lot for a young man to cope with.”
The season is just weeks away!
“It’s an exciting time at Texas A&M. … It’s an exciting time to get ready to get back on the field.”
“I’m proud of how quiet our offseason has been. I’m proud of how quickly our players have adapted to a new culture.”
This team is clearly ahead of schedule
Make no mistake: There is still a lot of work to be done for us to meet the full potential of what we are capable of.”
“It’s an exciting time to be a Texas A&M Aggie.”
Elko on recruiting battles with Oklahoma and Texas
“There have been recruiting wars between those three schools since long before I was born. … Those three brands hold a lot of weight in this state.”
Elko on the challenges in recruiting the state of Texas
“Each kid has to go through their process and figure out what the right fit for them is. I don’t know if a league gives you that leg up. We have to be a program that people want to be a part of. It’s no secret that recruiting in this state is incredibly competitive. It’s not just us and Texas.”
Elko on the need to win now
“I don’t think this is a patient era. You don’t come to Texas A&M with what we’re capable of doing and talk about building for the future.”
“I’m excited because I think our kids have embraced that. They’ve bought into what we want to be about.”
Elko on if Texas A\u0026amp;M is using artificial intelligence within the program
“No, not yet. Some of those conversations have started off the record with roles in which AI can be utilized. Right now, we’re still into using our analyst and data reports.”
Elko on the return of the Lone Star Showdown
“It would be hard to equate something that happened in South Brunswick, NJ, to this rivalry.”
“Now that we’re playing and in the same conference again, that’s something that means a lot to our people, and it means a lot to our program.”
Elko on how the offensive line has improved this offseason
“It starts with the work we put in during…
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