I didn't see anything on this first page of threads about it, so figured I would ask. Anyhow B/CS (fwiw) quotes Elko talking about going to Penn St as "a waste of brain space". Now I know technically it doesn't mean a thing, but didn't know if it was part of an interview maybe someone else heard and maybe there's other context with it?

It's from today's conference. They asked him what he thought of the rumors and if he discussed it with players. Ill find the link

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko on the reports about him possibly being a candidate for the Penn State opening: “I don’t discuss it with my players. I think it’s absolutely hilarious how (the media) covers coaches. I think three weeks ago, I was getting fired; now, I’m getting hired.” pic.twitter.com/KHDWF5vqQF

— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) October 20, 2025

Walked around the topic, get use to that being a weekly question Coach until you give an actual answer.

I wish he took that moment to reaffirm his commitment to A&M. He answered the question, but Schlossnagle is still in the rear view…

Elko ain't leaving. He's aiming for a raise here that comes with his incentive.

I mean, it we want to call a spade a spade, that wasn't exactly a quash of the rumor.

Im sure there are phone calls being made right now, and A&M is having to come to terms with the fact they are going to have to show Elko the money to keep him. There are just too many teams out there looking this year.

Right now, I mean at this very instant, there is a debate between the big doners and the university that say they got too burned with Jimbo to go into another big time contract again. There are others that say Elko is an entirely different kind of coach (and he is), and worth trying to keep him.

Batty said:

---

Walked around the topic, get use to that being a weekly question Coach until you give an actually answer.

---

He did answer the question. Zane asked if he discussed it with his players. He said no.

I suspect the question will become more direct but this one was not. Zane is just warming him up.

ETA: My opinion is that TexAgs reporters should not be poking this beehive unless they have some actionable intel that suggests Mike is talking. It feels aggressive and Lord knows we do not need to be starting fights with our HC going into November.

I respect Zane for the Schloss question but this is not that, yet, to my knowledge. If it is, TexAgs should shine light on the info.

I agree. Unfortunately, with the early season success and the fact that we were a few playmakers from a deeper run last year, he's going to get plenty of suitors…

If he takes care of business, A&M will take care of him. He knows that. I would tell him we're not even discussing it until after the season.

It's not in his best interest to quiet the rumors. Rumors = $$$. If he was to commit firmly for the rest of his days to A&M he would cost himself several million per year. He's about to get paid and he knows it. He's humming at the perfect time.

Do I think he's leaving - no.
Do I think he's smart enough to keep his mouth shut and let his agent make it rain - yes.

alexandertheok said:

---

I wish he took that moment to reaffirm his commitment to A&M. He answered the question, but Schlossnagle is still in the rear view…

---

Billy Gillispie reaffirmed his commitment and signed an extension, only to take the Kentucky job about a day or two later. Schlossnagle insulted the press for even asking such an inappropriate question, only to take the Texas job less than 24 hours later.

There's a lot of ways to handle this wrong, while it's probably right to deflect the question and state that he's focused on what we're doing now. Behind the scenes, his agent can leverage any interest he gets into a raise from us.

ElephantRider said:

---

If he takes care of business, A&M will take care of him. He knows that. I would tell him we're not even discussing it until after the season.

---

100%

He's got to because next season is
UT
t.u
Bama
Oklahoma
LSU
Arizona St

If he avoids the usual late season Aggie collapse and gets us to the playoffs then give him a raise but not fully guaranteed. If he doesn't like that, tell him to kick rocks

alexandertheok said:

---

I agree. Unfortunately, with the early season success and the fact that we were a few playmakers from a deeper run last year, he's going to get plenty of suitors…

---

Yup. Its just all there is to it. Gotta play the game and can't blame anyone for it, really.

Only person on the planet that knows whether Elko would move to Penn State from Texas A&M, is Elko.

Hope A&M can figure out how to have it not be a money issue for Elko.

ElephantRider said:

---

If he takes care of business, A&M will take care of him. He knows that. I would tell him we're not even discussing it until after the season.

---

Can't do that. Not if he is getting calls from just about every team that has fired (or even thinking about firing) their coach.

This is part of the game.

Is State College nicer than College Station? Like 1000x


Is it currently a better place to be a football coach? Not close to being as good as A&M.

I'm tired of getting bent over by coaches.

Tex117 said:

---

ElephantRider said:

---

If he takes care of business, A&M will take care of him. He knows that. I would tell him we're not even discussing it until after the season.

---

Can't do that. Not if he is getting calls from just about every team that has fired (or even thinking about firing) their coach.

This is part of the game.

---

Call his bluff. I don't think he'd actually leave for Penn State

Loftin said:

---

alexandertheok said:

---

I wish he took that moment to reaffirm his commitment to A&M. He answered the question, but Schlossnagle is still in the rear view…

---

Billy Gillispie reaffirmed his commitment and signed an extension, only to take the Kentucky job about a day or two later. Schlossnagle insulted the press for even asking such an inappropriate question, only to take the Texas job less than 24 hours later.

There's a lot of ways to handle this wrong, while it's probably right to deflect the question and state that he's focused on what we're doing now. Behind the scenes, his agent can leverage any interest he gets into a raise from us.

---

Gillespie never signed his extension. The fact he hadn't signed it had people's head exploding on here.

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

ElephantRider said:

---

I'm tired of getting bent over by coaches.

---

Same. Elko hasn't proven anything yet so doing the usual Aggie coaching contract would be stupid. Elko wasn't even our first choice

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

Because if you can do big things here, you will be a ****ing GOD and we will throw a bonkers amount of money at you. Never before seen money.

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

Elko has as much coaching of the fanbase as he does his own players. Hopefully he views that as an amusing challenge.

(In the end, so long as he has pockets of the doners to compete for the best players with NIL money, I doubt he worries too much about the fan base's BAS).

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

That's dumb. We have BAS because we haven't won **** and always collapse when things look promising. Fans pack Kyle field no matter what the record and always donate, in spite of BAS. Maybe if Elko can actually win something here, BAS would be cured.

…AND when he showed up wearing a Kentucky blue neck tie we knew he was gone.

I mean don't you think it'd get old to have to hear about something constantly than you had no part in? It's like your wife constantly griping about her ex boyfriends and never appreciating you.

RooAg said:

---

It's not in his best interest to quiet the rumors. Rumors = $$$. If he was to commit firmly for the rest of his days to A&M he would cost himself several million per year. He's about to get paid and he knows it. He's humming at the perfect time.

Do I think he's leaving - no.
Do I think he's smart enough to keep his mouth shut and let his agent make it rain - yes.

---

Bingo. This is how this works now. Probably always has but Twitter has set fire to the woodshed.

Expecting coaches to ignore smart business is silly. No one else in college football is expected to do this. Not the players, university or staff, NCAA, media etc. etc.

Mike should run his agent out of town if he is'nt leveraging those "national media" articles Zane is referencing.

And guess what, there is also a chance he takes the Penn State job. I hope not but who can be certain anymore?

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

Uhhhh... Do you even know Penn St?

Well, the one area where A&M can always win is throwing away money. So I wouldn't be worried about losing a bidding war to Penn State or anyone else.

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

That's freaking Horse Sh*t. What fans are you talking about? 99% of the fan base is elated with our programs progress and trajectory. That's reflected in the record crowds, student section crowds, and sellouts.

Quick clarification: I believe that's Alex Miller of The Eagle asking that question. Not Richard Zane.

Jbob04 said:

---

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

That's dumb. We have BAS because we haven't won **** and always collapse when things look promising. Fans pack Kyle field no matter what the record and always donate, in spite of BAS. Maybe if Elko can actually win something here, BAS would be cured.

---

We're 7-0 with 5 games to go. One of those 5 is almost a certain win. The rest are all toss ups. We could win them all and we could lose them all. This team still has a bout a 10% chance to go 8-4. I don't think that will happen. But it still feels unlikely they will run the table either. I hope they can, but because the November collapses have happened so many times before, I just can't believe yet that they can do it. Beat LSU in Tiger Stadium and I may start believing.

Jbob04 said:

---

TheDecadeSapling said:

---

I think Elko likes it here but I can see how not getting appreciation from the fans would be annoying. If they're so obsessed with their history than they can't enjoy the present, why put in the effort for them? Go put in effort for someone who actually cares. In our case, we just want to hold on to our BAS.

---

That's dumb. We have BAS because we haven't won **** and always collapse when things look promising. Fans pack Kyle field no matter what the record and always donate, in spite of BAS. Maybe if Elko can actually win something here, BAS would be cured.

---

His greatest win as a HC at A&M in the months of Nov and Dec are
*checks notes*
New Mexico St

If Elko actually feels that way and its not just internet fodder. He needs to look in the mirror

alexandertheok said:

---

I wish he took that moment to reaffirm his commitment to A&M. He answered the question, but Schlossnagle is still in the rear view…

---

Well, when it comes to coaches and players, commitment isn't in their makeup. Even if he said he was 100% committed to A&M and would never leave, he could still leave the next day. Words mean nothing.