Early returns are very promising.

We are a fickle bunch.
(I did think Elko was the right hire and continue to feel that way, for now)

Let's bump this thread in a couple/3 years for chitz-n-giggles.

There is no way to know this yet.

Great year so far. But he could lose 3 of the next 4 games and no one will be this enthusiastic.

All true, but it seems of the three, only one is a hardass with determination that won't let up.

Double Diamond said:

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We will see I thought Sumlin looked pretty hot during year one. And Jimbo had a lot of moments year one. The big test will be to not fall backwards in year two.

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i wanted Elko before Jimbo was even fired. That said, i celebrated when we hired Fran, so....

I thought Elko was a good hire when it happened. Lanning was the only one that I felt like may have been better. I now think Elko was probably a great hire.

Double Diamond said:

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We will see I thought Sumlin looked pretty hot during year one. And Jimbo had a lot of moments year one. The big test will be to not fall backwards in year two.

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Exactly THIS! Just like we should give time to new coaches struggling, the same should apply in the reverse. I'm digging what I'm seeing so far but this smooth ride can change in an instant. Until we see a fraction of what Saban did, we should err on the side of caution.

If Elko can build on this season next season I'll buy in. But let's say Elko wins 10 games this season but only wins 8 next season that's a major red flag. How does Elko replace a lot of d-line talent that leaves after this year? Other roster issues. I can't recall an A&M football coach having back to back upwards years in when? Sherman had his big year only to fall flat. Sumlin the same. Jimbo kind of stayed flat in year two but fell off the cliff after his big year in 2020.

Little Rock Ag said:

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Quote:

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Whether this team wins out and get a NC, or loses out it is obvious that he's a great fit for A&M.

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I don't think I'll feel very warm and fuzzy about Elko if this team doesn't win another game this season. I get what you're saying, but I think A&M should have the very highest expectations of its head coach and just being a big ol' blue-collar teddy bear doesn't cut it.

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This. If we lose 3 of the next 4, we're 8-4. Sounds exactly like the other two coaches lol

8/4 with this schedule won't cut it.

I think Sumlin and JFF's success also had a lot to do with the OL made up of several future NFL 1st and 2nd rounders. Likewise, the 2020 Aggies which ended up #4 nationally also had a group of veteran on the OL with a lot of experience. Plus Mond is more like a game manager than an explosive, dual-threat QB. With the OL we had in 2020, we controlled the clock and kept opponents' defense on the field in most of the games. I also believe Addazio was the biggest reason that led to Jimbo's fire.

gunan01 said:

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There is no way to know this yet.

Great year so far. But he could lose 3 of the next 4 games and no one will be this enthusiastic.

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Could, but probably won't. At worst I could see us losing 2 and going 9-3 plus a bowl, but I could just as easily see us losing 1 or none. Win this weekend and I think we have a 10 win regular season. Considering our performance over the last 10+ years and the question marks we had at the beginning of the season, I think that would be a pretty incredible result.

If Elko is such a good coach, why doesn't he run a mean pick 6 every time we're on defense?!

AustinCountyAg said:

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Like many I had my doubts when he was hired. He wasn't the big, sexy hire,

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In the book "Good to Great" it points out the sexy hires rarely deliver. It gives lots of examples where the best hires were often interal from blue collar type executives.

AustinCountyAg said:

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Like many I had my doubts when he was hired. He wasn't the big, sexy hire, but after watching the recent pulse he's got me sold. Whether this team wins out and get a NC, or loses out it is obvious that he's a great fit for A&M. Blue collar, what you see is what you get kind of guy, and the players have bought in. He seems genuine, and sincere, and the players respect that. A complete opposite of what we had before in Jimbo. Elko "gets" A&M and the players "get" Elko and believe in him.

I'm excited for this weekend, and excited for the future of Aggie football.

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Are you demanding that the A&M gods give Elko a 10 year extension?

Little Rock Ag said:

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Quote:

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Whether this team wins out and get a NC, or loses out it is obvious that he's a great fit for A&M.

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I don't think I'll feel very warm and fuzzy about Elko if this team doesn't win another game this season. I get what you're saying, but I think A&M should have the very highest expectations of its head coach and just being a big ol' blue-collar teddy bear doesn't cut it.

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Why are we so obsessed with "blue collar"? Elko is white collar. He is rich. He doesn't do manual work, he does intellectual work.

Hubert J. Farnsworth said:

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One difference between Sumlin and Elko is that Sumlins hot start had a lot to do with a generational QB and a future hall of fame WR. Elko is winning with good team football across the board.

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Yes. The difference is now we don't have any superstars as such, everyone is more or less even and contributes. No one can slack and if they do, they don't see the field.

A few signs that are TELLING:

1. Little to No team drama / discipline issues.

2. Obvious and numerous instances of in-game adjustments.

3. Ability of back-ups to step in immediately without dropoff in team performance.

4. Calm coach who is stern- a solid rock that commands respect you see from the team.
Very Saban-like in that regard.

Hubert J. Farnsworth said:

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One difference between Sumlin and Elko is that Sumlins hot start had a lot to do with a generational QB and a future hall of fame WR. Elko is winning with good team football across the board.

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Don't forget an O- line full of future NFL starters courtesy of Sherman.

The perfect hire would have started 8-0

This team reminds me a lot of the 2020 team.

- A very solid defense that isn't perfect, but by the end of the game you realize they kept us in the game the whole time and start to smother the other taem.
- Offense that looks completely inept at times and then manages to put up points when needed.
- Obvious improvement week after week.

I love the way the kids talk about Elko.
I love that our play is substance and grind over flash.

I just hope we get our passing game fixed regardless of who ends up being qb1

I've got zero complaints about progress. His recruiting has to show up moving forward, but no reason for concern on that until we see lineups and outcomes.

We could take potshots at some things, but fighting for Ws is what matters in the first year. Execution comes next. Then player development in season and off season. Not saying be patient, btw…

Cynic said:

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The perfect hire would have started 8-0

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I don't know. Surely a move to Reed was needed, but I can understand Elko saying that no way was he going to do that to Reed, and maybe it serves better over the long-term.

Double Diamond said:

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If Elko can build on this season next season I'll buy in. But let's say Elko wins 10 games this season but only wins 8 next season that's a major red flag. How does Elko replace a lot of d-line talent that leaves after this year? Other roster issues. I can't recall an A&M football coach having back to back upwards years in when? Sherman had his big year only to fall flat. Sumlin the same. Jimbo kind of stayed flat in year two but fell off the cliff after his big year in 2020.

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I'm not saying I completely diagree, but the schedule is certainly not as friendly next season. Tough road schedule.

Some fools here expected scintillating wins from day 1 in year 1. That is a long shot. Those people started cursing Elko after the ND loss.

Now they are eating their words.

We may still lose a few more but no denying we have improved. That is all my expectation was. To keep improving every year. I have waited 29 years as an Aggie, I can wait a few more as long as the direction is UP. We will get to the top one day.

infinity ag said:

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AustinCountyAg said:

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Like many I had my doubts when he was hired. He wasn't the big, sexy hire, but after watching the recent pulse he's got me sold. Whether this team wins out and get a NC, or loses out it is obvious that he's a great fit for A&M. Blue collar, what you see is what you get kind of guy, and the players have bought in. He seems genuine, and sincere, and the players respect that. A complete opposite of what we had before in Jimbo. Elko "gets" A&M and the players "get" Elko and believe in him.

I'm excited for this weekend, and excited for the future of Aggie football.

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Are you demanding that the A&M gods give Elko a 10 year extension?

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HELL NO. I am just saying from the outside looking in he seems to be a great fit and the players have bought in to everything thus far.

infinity ag said:

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Some fools here expected scintillating wins from day 1 in year 1. That is a long shot. Those people started cursing Elko after the ND loss.

Now they are eating their words.

We may still lose a few more but no denying we have improved. That is all my expectation was. To keep improving every year. I have waited 29 years as an Aggie, I can wait a few more as long as the direction is UP. We will get to the top one day.

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I've waited 55 years for something better than mediocre. You seem to forget Elko looked great in year 1 a Duke, then came year 2.... not so much. We won't know if we've improved until the end of year 2, and later.

My problem with Elko regarding the ND loss was he didn't pull Weigman and put Reed in for the 2nd half. If he'd done that, we would likely have won. I was glad to see him put Reed in for the LSU game.... but, he should have recognized the problem with Weigman in the 1rst and 2nd quarters, and put Reed in at the beginning of the second half.

I'm not expecting "scintillating wins", just a WIN will do me fine. What I am expecting is that our coaching staff will be quick to identify problems "in game" (real time), and make adjustments immediately.... not 1 or 2 quarters later.

Aggie_Nuke said:

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infinity ag said:

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Some fools here expected scintillating wins from day 1 in year 1. That is a long shot. Those people started cursing Elko after the ND loss.

Now they are eating their words.

We may still lose a few more but no denying we have improved. That is all my expectation was. To keep improving every year. I have waited 29 years as an Aggie, I can wait a few more as long as the direction is UP. We will get to the top one day.

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I've waited 55 years for something better than mediocre. You seem to forget Elko looked great in year 1 a Duke, then came year 2.... not so much. We won't know if we've improved until the end of year 2, and later.

My problem with Elko regarding the ND loss was he didn't pull Weigman and put Reed in for the 2nd half. If he'd done that, we would likely have won. I was glad to see him put Reed in for the LSU game.... but, he should have recognized the problem with Weigman in the 1rst and 2nd quarters, and put Reed in at the beginning of the second half.

I'm not expecting "scintillating wins", just a WIN will do me fine. What I am expecting is that our coaching staff will be quick to identify problems "in game" (real time), and make adjustments immediately.... not 1 or 2 quarters later.

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Really not a big difference from year 1 to year 2 at Duke. 2022 they went 8-4, 2023 7-5. Won their bowl game both years. Didn't he lose his starting QB in yr 2?