I am super confident that Elko is the guy. The recruiting momentum is just proof of what he is building.

I also just was thinking today that we so nearly avoided disaster.
Our Athletic Department was so close to hiring Mark Stoops - a modern-day Fran hire.
Elko was the obvious choice from the jump and we all saw that.

Given that we as the fanbase intervened to stop what this athletic dept always does makes me feel like this regime may finally do something we haven't seen before - sustained success at the highest level.
It was us that turned this thing around.

My optimism with the program under Elko has never been higher - and maybe that is due to what state it could've been in.

Elko seems solid, but I still question why Bateman remains employed (or was hired at all). That's pretty concerning. Shouldn't happen if you're trying to bring in an elite staff to win it all.

What you're describing is "hope."
You are hoping Elko is the guy. Nothing on the field so far has shown that to be the case. And forgive me if I'm not putting much stock into our projected 2026 signing class.

PeekingDuck said:

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Elko seems solid, but I still question why Bateman remains employed (or was hired at all). That's pretty concerning. Shouldn't happen if you're trying to bring in an elite staff to win it all.

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Or Klein.

Story as old as time

An aggie says "i believe he is the answer"

-time passes-

he indeed was not the answer, chalk it up to our BAS and you are not judged

OR

he is the answer, the aggie was right, the aggie is commended for his assessment

either way the aggie is safe with this prediction

Only time will tell.

I feel like Elko is a common sense guy. Many times under Jimbo Sleazy Fisher, I felt like he was entirely in another universe, counting his millions.

Elko understands the urgency and the moment I feel. However it all remains to be seen on the field. Results.

I believe that this will be a Make or Break Year for the Coordinators =

For both Bateman & Klein:

- They will need to prove it on the field with winning results...
- Overachieve with the talent & personnel that they each have to work with...

Elko will "Oversee This Goal". -- No More Hands Off.

I thought he was the answer until South Carolina last year

NoahAg said:

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What you're describing is "hope."
You are hoping Elko is the guy. Nothing on the field so far has shown that to be the case. And forgive me if I'm not putting much stock into our projected 2026 signing class.

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OR.... That I am just relieved that we didn't royally screw it up the way we always seem to do.
This was the fans making a difference - and that could be all the difference.

Thank God, we have Elko and not Stoops.

i think there is reason for optimism but no one really knows for sure. and i will even say if elko makes the playoffs is that a gurantee he is the guy/ jimbo reference.

what i like

the question around elko coming to us was could he recruit at a high enough level to allow his coaching to get us over the hump. so far i am a believer in his recruiting he has done a really nice job and has wxceeeded my expectations. so really just need him to be the coach we all believe he can be because the talent is on the roster and will be moving forward.

Klein - Needs time, He's young and will figure it out. I like that he has a style and identity, but I do worry that we can be too one dimensional.

Bateman - He's the worry in my opinion. That said, I think Elko is the guy and will have his hands on everything this season. It's like the new hire that came in and needs that extra oversight from the boss. It is now or never for him and Elko will not let the defense look like it did at the end of last year - I can guarantee that.

Make or break year for ELKO. Less than 9 wins, he's in real trouble.

Not so sure about that with the incoming 2026 recruits. Jmo, 3 seasons should be the minimum eval period.

it's about QB and WR

if Elko can get elite players at those positions...A&M can become a 10-game winner and playoff contender

no matter how good the defense is...there will be shootouts in the SEC that take 30 points minimum -- sometimes 40 points -- to win

Proof will be his record. I don't put a lot of stock in recruiting classes anymore. We had the number 1 class with Jumbo and look what happened. And now, half of the 2026 class could be gone in 6 months due to NIL. Kids are mercenaries now. I was also disappointed Elko didn't fire Bateman. He was bad at Florida and bad with us last year. I don't get Elkos loyalty to him.

SilverTaps86 said:

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Proof will be his record. I don't put a lot of stock in recruiting classes anymore. We had the number 1 class with Jumbo and look what happened. And now, half of the 2026 class could be gone in 6 months due to NIL. Kids are mercenaries now. I was also disappointed Elko didn't fire Bateman. He was bad at Florida and bad with us last year. I don't get Elkos loyalty to him.

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I see your point and yes recruiting has changed, but I would argue the 22 class were more mercenaries and star chasing than this class Elko is assembling.
22 class was so heavily weighed on DL that were 3,4 deep in positions solely for the Stars on recruiting boards.
Elko seems to have identified guys in areas like LB, CB, EDGE that make the class more well-rounded as a whole. That doesn't guarantee success, but I think it is more than just building talent for clout (i.e. Jimbo).

Well if seebond believes, must be true.

You believe in Elko because you don't have a choice???

"heavily weighed" has definitely been a problem with A&M's recruiting rankings for a long time

the 4-star/5-star talent is clustered in 1 or 2 position groups

it needs to be spread among all position groups

SteveA said:

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Well if seebond believes, must be true.

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I like your thinking!

The 2024 Auburn football team lost to California, Vandy, miss St, Arkansas, Oklahoma, LSU, and mizzou. There are more but those are the talking points.

This is why I dont believe in Elko. He had 1st place, he had control of the teams destiny and choked it away

greg.w.h said:

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You believe in Elko because you don't have a choice???

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I mean, I guess you aren't wrong, but given that the choice we were stuck with could've been Mark Stoops, this is the right decision for Elko and it was made by us and not the Athletic Dept.
We are bucking the trend.

Cajun Ag 86 said:

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Make or break year for ELKO. Less than 9 wins, he's in real trouble.

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Yup! Go 8-4 or worse there will be new coordinators and Elko's seat will be on fire in 2026. No one gets a long leash now with NIL & the portal. Need to win and win big in 2025 because we lose a lot along the LOS in 2026.

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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The 2024 Auburn football team lost to California, Vandy, miss St, Arkansas, Oklahoma, LSU, and mizzou. There are more but those are the talking points.

This is why I dont believe in Elko. He had 1st place, he had control of the teams destiny and choked it away

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No doubt the AU loss was a bad one last year.
But I don't think anyone really expected us to do as well as we did in Year 1. Factor in that Moss' injury changed the offense and it was just not a good way to close out our season. I am still very optimistic about the future.

seebond said:

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Klein - Needs time, He's young and will figure it out. I like that he has a style and identity, but I do worry that we can be too one dimensional.

Bateman - He's the worry in my opinion. That said, I think Elko is the guy and will have his hands on everything this season. It's like the new hire that came in and needs that extra oversight from the boss. It is now or never for him and Elko will not let the defense look like it did at the end of last year - I can guarantee that.

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I disagree. A&M shouldn't have to hire unproven, unripe coordinators who are still trying to "figure it out."
If he can't show improvement this season he needs to go. Otherwise, Elko will eventually take the fall.

You have to be multifaceted and deep enough to sustain an injury to your top rb and still be able to move the ball and score tho. I suspect we will be better this yr in that regard but the proof is in the pudding.

Elko could go 8-4 every year a d that would be significantly better than what would have happened had we hired stoops,

That said, I believe in Elko too, however he'll need to start showing it in more than just recruiting, and I believe he will.

Wabs said:

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I thought he was the answer until South Carolina last year

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& then Auburn

& then sip


& then usc



Dude has a long way to go

NyAggie said:

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Elko could go 8-4 every year a d that would be significantly better than what would have happened had we hired stoops,

That said, I believe in Elko too, however he'll need to start showing it in more than just recruiting, and I believe he will.

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This is what I am saying.
And the BAS on here is just insane. We did as well as anyone would have expected us to in Year 1. My thinking is that we can build on that.. And I'm hopeful that Coach Elko can coach and develop guys instead of watching them plateau like Sumlin and Jimbo and the likes on many and all coaches have done.

Yes, we ended last season in terrible fashion. I do not think that dampens my attitude towards this year at all. Matter of fact, I think it pissed Elko off - He has too much pride in his defensive mind to let that happen again.

I also think in 5 years or so we lose Klein as a HC - I think he's got that kind of potential. It was a coup for us to take him away from KState and honestly, I am excited to see what he can learn and create. I'd rather have a guy learning and growing and developing as a coach with something to prove than the old fat cats that we've had where the game has passed them by... Mazzone, Jimbo..

Quote:

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It was a coup for us to take him away from KState and honestly

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ok, this is the silliest thing you've said so far. Are you related to Collin?

Aggie Dad 26 said:

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The 2024 Auburn football team lost to California, Vandy, miss St, Arkansas, Oklahoma, LSU, and mizzou. There are more but those are the talking points.

This is why I dont believe in Elko. He had 1st place, he had control of the teams destiny and choked it away

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I'm going to call out praise where praise is due. After reading OP I was absolutely sure you were going to respond with calling out "a typical sunshine pumper smart ass remark" and with nothing else. Having a conversation with substantiated facts/thoughts is how you have a meaningful conversation. I applaud you sir.

seebond said:

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I am super confident that Elko is the guy. The recruiting momentum is just proof of what he is building.

I also just was thinking today that we so nearly avoided disaster.
Our Athletic Department was so close to hiring Mark Stoops - a modern-day Fran hire.
Elko was the obvious choice from the jump and we all saw that.

Given that we as the fanbase intervened to stop what this athletic dept always does makes me feel like this regime may finally do something we haven't seen before - sustained success at the highest level.
It was us that turned this thing around.

My optimism with the program under Elko has never been higher - and maybe that is due to what state it could've been in.

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Elko still has on his training wheels, only 38 games as a head coach and most of that at Duke, only 8 SEC games at A&M. Is he the guy? Hope so, but not much to go on experience wise.

He appears to be doing a great job at recruiting. But we have recruited pretty well for a decent amount of time. If he and his staff can recruit the right guys and coach them up, he should do well. If not, then dump them and try again. Just don't waste a lot of time before doing it.

Agreed!

seebond said:

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greg.w.h said:

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You believe in Elko because you don't have a choice???

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I mean, I guess you aren't wrong, but given that the choice we were stuck with could've been Mark Stoops, this is the right decision for Elko and it was made by us and not the Athletic Dept.
We are bucking the trend.

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You assume Mark would be worse just like you assume what Elko has done is better.