Press Conference: Elko, No. 14 A&M face Mississippi State in Week 8

At 5-1 and 3-0 in SEC play, the 14th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies return from an open week to face Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday afternoon. To preview the conference matchup, Mike Elko, Taurean York and Conner Weigman spoke to the media on Monday.

The following are live, paraphrased notes from the Monday afternoon media availability:

Mike Elko

• It was a good week for us to recharge a little bit. We practiced on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We got two good lifts in. We came out today with a lot of energy. We are in a really good spot from a health standpoint.
   
• I think Mississippi State is getting better every time they are in the field. They have had to transition to a freshman quarterback. They have three wide receivers. They rotate of bunch at tailback and tight end.
   
• Jeff Lebby has been known for his offense. Defensively, they are starting to get healthy. They are starting to come along. State is always talented up front. The full expectation is we will have our hands full. We are not very good as a program down in Starkville. We will have to go play at our best.
   
• We talk about championship mindset, whether that its success or failure. How you go about your day to day. It was a challenge coming out of Notre Dame, after Bowling Green and even Missouri. We talk about what it means to chase greatness. Doing that focuses on them on the things we need to focus on.
   
• We need to look at ourselves. We have lost to every team in the SEC in the last two years. This team, the last time we wnt to Starkville, it wasn't pretty. 
   
• I swore I would never play cowbells at practice. We play music really loud. What makes Starkville a hard place to play is they are very talented, and they are passionate about protecting their house. What makes this league different is the hostile environments. It's a difficult place to play on Saturdays.
   
• The speed at which we play in college, you have a kid's shoelace come untied, or a shoe comes off, if the offense is sprinting to the line, what do you want the kid to do? Do we condone faking injuries? No. I think it is both sides problem, offense and defense. 
   
• Conner Weigman is in a really good place. Every day of rest is helpful. We would not have put him back out there if we didn't think he was healthy. Now, we can crank back up. He's in a great spot, but he's ready to go. 

• Michael Van Buren Jr. has a really impressive arm. The explosive passing game is really scary when you go back and watch the Georgia game. 

• Turnover margin, we believe that is the No. 1 key. We start every practice with some version of ball security. Our kids understand the value of protecting the football and getting after the football.

• It's a multi-level approach. We are continuing to get stronger throughout the season. Le’Veon Moss will tell you he feels stronger and fresher than he has so far this season. That is a testament to Tommy Moffitt and his staff but how we practice, how we manage them and how they manage themselves. 

• I did watch some college football over the weekend. I didn’t watch like an avid fan but like a guy on his day off. I am so past having judgment on other teams. I am numb to it. I just enjoy it.

• From game one to now, the wideouts are the position that has taken big steps and strides. 

• I always watch TV copies because it gives you rhythm and flow. You get a taste of game flow.

• We have a lot of kids in this locker room that were in the locker room last year. They will tell you they are closer than they have ever been. It matters when you bring people in. Not every transfer is the right fit. I think we have done a really good job of that. With college football now, you have to be intentional in bringing the team together.

• I think the culture in terms of togetherness and doing things the right way, I am extremely proud of our guys. When a new coach comes in, kids have a choice. They can let it go in one ear and out the other, but they have not done that. They have bought into everything the football program should be about. You see that in how they fight for each other. That plays a huge part.