Quotes and Notes from Elko’s First Presser as Texas A&M Football Coach

New Texas A&M Football Coach Meets the Media

Newly-named Texas A&M football coach Mike Elko met with the media for the first time yesterday. You can watch the presser here or in the video below.

Here are some of the notable things coach Elko said.

One of the first questions for the new Texas A&M football coach was how the offense would look. Elko said that was the million dollar question. He asserted that the Aggies will find a way to play explosive offense, to be part of the modern era, multiple, and adaptable. He remarked that people get caught up in words like spread and pro style; at the end of the day, the team has to be able to attack defenses and get the ball in our players’ hands.

Another reporter asked what gives Elko confidence he can bring the Aggies a national championship. Elko spoke about the need to fulfill the potential here, which happens with work; this, he said, was the message he gave the players. They can’t just say we want to be something or arrive somewhere, they have to be committed to every day of doing that. There’s a lot that goes into that behind the scenes: culture building, camaraderie, development, so much that goes into winning games in the fall. Those are the things the team has to take pride in; it’s easy to take pride in making plays in games, but are they willing to do the things when no one is looking?

Elko is the first defensive-minded coach at A&M since Slocum. Likely due to that fact, he was asked whether he still believes defense wins championships. He answered that it’s a combination. If you look around at what has won national championships recently, there’s a toughness in the program that has to do with defense. Every team has had to dig deep on defense at one point. But every team has also been explosive with good QB play. There are games where you have to match offensive firepower like that. There’s a toughness that comes from a good defense, but if you can’t score points you can’t win games.

One of the top questions Texas A&M football fans have is whether Robinson will be retained, and a timetable for the rest of the staff. Elko mentioned that keeping Elijah here is a huge priority and that process is already in motion. He went on to say that he doesn’t want to put a timetable on the rest of the staff, but they have to get it right. They have to get the right people in here, both on and off the field.

Much more came from not only this presser, but his introductory meeting in the Kyle Field Hall of Champions (which you can see here). Safe to say that this was a home run of an introduction for the new head man of Texas A&M football.