Good article from USA Today - nice to see us get some positive national press:


https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/sec/2026/05/13/texas-am-football-mike-elko-coach-aggies-predictions-2026-season/89928870007/

What is wrong with a ranch boots and cows???????

lol Elko is in it for the money. And then ego.

They all are. It's semi professional football, and he got a payday because he was DC here previously.

That doesn't mean it won't work out, but let's not pretend this is some "good pub"'or something.

OldShadeOfBlue said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Let's hope that we rub off on him some and he begins to hunt. Starts the ranch game with a ranchito. Develops a taste for drinking whiskey and is gifted enough boots that he wears a pair sometimes!

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I just want him to win football games

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He's our head ball coach, that's a given that doesn't need to be stated

There's nothing wrong with pursuing those things and working for a paycheck. Most people do. I personally don't know anyone that would work their job for free.

Those things aside, I do think Elko seems a more genuine straight shooter than a lot of other coaches out there. He seems to emphasize hard work, grit and accountability in the team's culture which I do think embodies the culture of our university.

That's a helluva article IMO. I love the guy and believe in him.

Last year was incredible but, as the article pointed out, we fizzled at the end. I think he can get us over that hump and be a top 10 program year in year out. Not sure that we'll have a 11-1 regular season this year but I think it will be good.

I personally like people who invest in and enjoy the Texas lifestyle and culture! As A&M continues to grow, it needs more administrators, professors, coaches, and students invested in the Texas culture.

Iraq2xVeteran said:

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Blake Toppmeyer wrote a great article about why Mike Elko suits Texas A&M. Mike Elko emphasized discipline, accountability, and effort, and the players played harder and smarter with a purpose. He pushed to remove entitlement and build a "work-for-it" mindset. One of Elko's most important changes is how A&M recruits. He focuses less on recruiting 5-stars and more on character, fit, and development within the system. Also, he emphasizes high school recruiting as the foundation and adding transfer portal players to fill in the gaps. This creates better roster stability and stronger team chemistry. Elko's long-term vision of retention and continuity, designing a roster that fits SEC competition, and establishing a consistent identity has been critical.

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I don't care about this crap anymore than I care if he wears boots and likes whiskey.

Good lord we rationalize and reek of desperation and something to grab onto in the absence of actual meaningful accomplishments more than any other fanbase on the planet. It's embarrassing.

I don't think there is anything wrong with blue collar work ethic. But if you can't recruit competitive teams annually and effectively developing then it doesn't do much.

Elko is showing he can but I think the overhaul in picking up good players via NIL is a significant change. One could actually say that most of the advantage to the helmet schools was maybe more than just reputation. One doesn't have to explain how that worked to know it suppressed parity. And one can be humored at the notion of all those recognizable teams collecting in two conferences and then having the problem of sufficient access to the off-season. One especially might smile at all of them spending $30-40 million per annum to not be in the annual playoff.

And one can imagine how after a decade of missing the funds dry up…to imagine that, merely imagine a Rice tarp…

AozorAg said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Let's hope that we rub off on him some and he begins to hunt. Starts the ranch game with a ranchito. Develops a taste for drinking whiskey and is gifted enough boots that he wears a pair sometimes!

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Why? Who gives a ****

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Why not? What's wrong with rubbing off on your coach to make him more of a Texan?

Class of 65 said:

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What is wrong with a ranch boots and cows???????

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That's what Fisher did after arriving. Because Elko, isn't doing that, its clearly a sign hes going to be a better coach[/texags

Blonde Coffee Beans said:

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Class of 65 said:

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What is wrong with a ranch boots and cows???????

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That's what Fisher did after arriving. Because Elko, isn't doing that, its clearly a sign hes going to be a better coach[/texags

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What the world has this do with ranching. Their is no relationship between a ranch and poor coaching

Ghost91 said:

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Iraq2xVeteran said:

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Blake Toppmeyer wrote a great article about why Mike Elko suits Texas A&M. Mike Elko emphasized discipline, accountability, and effort, and the players played harder and smarter with a purpose. He pushed to remove entitlement and build a "work-for-it" mindset. One of Elko's most important changes is how A&M recruits. He focuses less on recruiting 5-stars and more on character, fit, and development within the system. Also, he emphasizes high school recruiting as the foundation and adding transfer portal players to fill in the gaps. This creates better roster stability and stronger team chemistry. Elko's long-term vision of retention and continuity, designing a roster that fits SEC competition, and establishing a consistent identity has been critical.

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I don't care about this crap anymore than I care if he wears boots and likes whiskey.

Good lord we rationalize and reek of desperation and something to grab onto in the absence of actual meaningful accomplishments more than any other fanbase on the planet. It's embarrassing.

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I get the sentiment, and fair play to you. But the article is a good write up and the points made in it resonate.

As for "the absence of actual meaningful accomplishments" there are some in the two seasons so far.

A playoff appearance after an 11 win season for a program that hasn't won a conference title sine 1998 is a meaningful accomplishment.

Having a roster that saw 10 players drafted into the NFL is another meaningful accomplishment.

After the Franchione, Sumlin, and Fisher regimes, I personally am very happy we have a head coach who can just coach football well. If you aren't convinced Elko is that guy, fair play to you again. But I like what we are seeing.

Oh. And to whoever, or what group that pulled the plug on Mark Stoops?



You have our gratitude!

I'm Texan. You don't hunt. Whiskey is ok, but it isn't really a Texas thing. WGAF if he wins games?

Elko is an Ivy League dude, probably as left as they come.

Just judging by his appearance and how he dresses which is not an unreasonable assumption.

Coach Elko is a good man and a solid coach.

He lives his values and the players experience that playing for him.

A&M has a coach that will take them to the next level, let's hope the administration lets him do that without interference.

You can set your watch to write ups and nothing but compliments to A&M's coach the first two to three years. I'll start with Sherman-First two years-He is changing culture in such an awesome way that he made the clocks digital to demand being on time and being accountable. Then Sumlin-first two years-He gets kids today and THAT'S what we need. He knows their music, identifies with them and just lets them play! Then Jimbo..Boy, the slobber fest was really on with Jimbo in his first three years. HE was the one changing culture and making it not like it used to be. He was on ESPN show-Finebaum, Marty and McGee, etc and all they could talk about was how "A&M just looks like a different program with Jimbo in charge. They are disciplined and play with pride, toughness and grit. I'm not saying Elko isn't a phenomenal coach but the generic speak of coach changing culture, demanding accountability, and doing away with entitlement is just that-generic and said about every coach across the country in their first 2-3 years..

5Amp said:

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Elko is an Ivy League dude, probably as left as they come.

Just judging by his appearance and how he dresses which is not an unreasonable assumption.

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Da fuq? I doubt college coaches really care about politics.

Well said. If you constantly have to hype up the next coach your program lacks a winning culture. Look at how many coaches Ohio state, the Steelers, or the Pats have had the past 20 years. When they do have to run off a guy they will always have his protege ready to go.

SteveA said:

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I'm Texan. You don't hunt. Whiskey is ok, but it isn't really a Texas thing. WGAF if he wins games?

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Huh?

Are you saying you, yourself, don't hunt?

It's not a big deal yall, chill. It's ok to prefer your coach be like you and enjoy similar Texan style things haha

So by "suits" we can assume he "gets A&M"?

Yawn. WGAF? Just win.

5Amp said:

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Elko is an Ivy League dude, probably as left as they come.

Just judging by his appearance and how he dresses which is not an unreasonable assumption.

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Viewing the world through this sort of lens is so stupid and lazy.

Mega Lops said:

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lol Elko is in it for the money. And then ego.

They all are. It's semi professional football, and he got a payday because he was DC here previously.

That doesn't mean it won't work out, but let's not pretend this is some "good pub"'or something.

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Wrong. Elko is genuinely a good dude. It's a positive to get that message out there, especially when so many are so obviously only in it for the money.

levytrousersEOY said:

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Mega Lops said:

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lol Elko is in it for the money. And then ego.

They all are. It's semi professional football, and he got a payday because he was DC here previously.

That doesn't mean it won't work out, but let's not pretend this is some "good pub"'or something.

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Wrong. Elko is genuinely a good dude. It's a positive to get that message out there, especially when so many are so obviously only in it for the money.

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Breaking news. You're an idiot.

TAMUallen said:

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AozorAg said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Let's hope that we rub off on him some and he begins to hunt. Starts the ranch game with a ranchito. Develops a taste for drinking whiskey and is gifted enough boots that he wears a pair sometimes!

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Why? Who gives a ****

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Why not? What's wrong with rubbing off on your coach to make him more of a Texan?

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Oh, you must have misread my post. Nowhere did I say there's anything "wrong" with it. What I said was, it doesn't ****ing matter. His job is to recruit as well as possible and win as many games as possible. There is no reason to "hope" that he becomes "more of a Texan" or not, because it has nothing whatsoever to do with his job performance.

AozorAg said:

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TAMUallen said:

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AozorAg said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Let's hope that we rub off on him some and he begins to hunt. Starts the ranch game with a ranchito. Develops a taste for drinking whiskey and is gifted enough boots that he wears a pair sometimes!

---

Why? Who gives a ****

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Why not? What's wrong with rubbing off on your coach to make him more of a Texan?

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Oh, you must have misread my post. Nowhere did I say there's anything "wrong" with it. What I said was, it doesn't ****ing matter. His job is to recruit as well as possible and win as many games as possible. There is no reason to "hope" that he becomes "more of a Texan" or not, because it has nothing whatsoever to do with his job performance.

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It'll be alright if I prefer him to like things that most Aggies like haha. So yeah, I do hope he will

OldShadeOfBlue said:

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TAMUallen said:

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Let's hope that we rub off on him some and he begins to hunt. Starts the ranch game with a ranchito. Develops a taste for drinking whiskey and is gifted enough boots that he wears a pair sometimes!

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I just want him to win football games

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Amen.
The last guy did the ranch thing with cowboy boots and a Texas draw…
I'll take whatever the yankee is doing cause it seems to be working.

Jimbo4win said:

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Boy, the slobber fest was really on with Jimbo in his first three years. HE was the one changing culture and making it not like it used to be. He was on ESPN show-Finebaum, Marty and McGee, etc and all they could talk about was how "A&M just looks like a different program with Jimbo in charge. They are disciplined and play with pride, toughness and grit. I'm not saying Elko isn't a phenomenal coach but the generic speak of coach changing culture, demanding accountability, and doing away with entitlement is just that-generic and said about every coach across the country in their first 2-3 years..

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Username checks out.