Texas A&M’s 2024 football season is just over three and a half months away, which doesn’t seem like a long stretch, but things tend to slow down once the summer hits. For new head coach Mike Elko, familiarity with the program is an obvious plus, serving as Jimbo Fisher’s most successful defensive coordinator from 2018-2021 before departing for Duke for his first head coaching gig.
After two highly successful years in North Carolina, all roads led back to College Station, as Fisher’s 2023 failures resulted in the most significant opportunity in Elko’s coaching career, and with six full months of offseason work under his belt, the New Jersey native can now safely answer questions regarding just how good this Texas A&M can be as soon as the Aggies season opener hosting Notre Dame.
As the spring season has ended, Elko made his first appearance at the annual Brazos Valley A&M Club’s Coach’s Night, previewing the season at hand while mentioning a plethora of players on the roster who he believes will lead the Aggies both in the locker room and on the field. Here’s every Mike Elko had to say on the night.
Mike Elko on his emotional return to Texas A&M
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s good to be home. I stood at this podium five months ago, and it was an emotional return.”
“When you talk about what this place stands for and what Texas A&M represents, we felt it as a family.”
“My family and I are privilege to be back, and we’re privilege to be your head football coach.”
“I’m here now to hopefully elevate this to where we all want it to go.”
Elko on getting back to “being Aggies” in 2024
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“We’ve got to get back to being Aggies. We’ve got to get back to putting our hearts and souls on display each and every Saturday.”
“We represent the best university and best fan base in the world, and we have to do that the right way every Saturday.”
Elko on the Aggies’ positional strength next season
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“We have a chance, defensively, to be really, really talented and special.”
Elko and just how good defensive ends Nic Scourton and Shemar Turner can be next season
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“I think we have two of the best ends that we’ve had around here in a long time.”
Elko clears the air on quarterback Conner Weigman’s recovery status
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
“Offensively, the million dollar question is ‘Will Conner (Weigman)…?’”
“Conner. Will. Be. Fine. … He was able to get a lot of good quality work in. He’ll get a lot better by the time we show up for Notre Dame.”
Elko on his optimism ahead of fall camp
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“There is a lot to be optimistic about. There is a lot to look forward to.”
“We’re excited about where we are, excited about where we’re headed, excited about this season.”
Mike Elko is a funny man, folks
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“If I am back here next year and still undefeated, this is going to turn into a big ass party.”
Mike Elko on how he plans to use 2023 five-star athlete Terry Bussey
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“We are very, very excited about Terry Bussey. Let’s just remember that he’s 17.”
“We’re going to evaluate what this roster looks like heading into the summer, and Terry has communicated with us his desire to help us on either side of the ball.”
“We have to figure out the best path for him to have early success… It’s a little bit TBD as far as what the best place for him to start is.”
Elko quotes Moneyball relating to the ever-changing NIL and Transfer Portal landscape
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“One of my favorite movies of all time is Moneyball.”
“Brad Pitt utters the line: ‘Adapt or die.’ That’s where we are at in college football right now.”
more comments on NIL and the Transfer Portal
Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
We have to embrace it. We have to move forward. We have to figure out how to make it work for us, not against us, moving forward.”
Introducing G.R.I.N.D
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
We stand behind the word ‘G.R.I.N.D.’”
Grind, Relentess, Integrity, Now, Dependable.
“That’s what I want this program to be. That’s what I want this program to represent.”
Elko on the re-newed Lone Star Showdown with the Texas Longhorns starting this season
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“It’s not lost on me what that game means to Texas A&M, our fan base, our community. It’s not lost on me what that rivalry represents.”
Elko on the Aggies’ offensive line progress heading into fall
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“I do know that they will be a much scrappier, much grittier, much tougher group as we move into the fall… It is certainly an area that we have to continue to enhance and improve moving forward.”
Elko on his dedication to building the Aggies back to form
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“From day one that I got here, I promised nothing more than the fact that I will roll up my sleeves and go to work every single day to make this program the best program it can be.”
Elko on his healthy relationship with University leadership
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“That will help us become the program we’re capable of becoming.”
“We have to build a program that can last through the good, through the bad, through the ups and through the downs. … What makes me different is the work ethic.”
Elko on the advantages of the 12 Team CFP Playoff structure, which will begin this season
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There is a little bit more meaning to every single game you play because you’re not just chasing the SEC championship or the top four.”
“There will be a lot more meaningful games in October and November.”
Elko’s closing remarks
Sep 23, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies linebacker Sam Mathews (12) waves the 12th Man flag during pre-game runout against the Auburn Tigers at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
“Your support means everything. We have a phenomenal fall slate. I’ve been in a lot of stadiums across college football. There is nothing like Kyle Field when you are there.”
“I think this group will make you very, very proud to be Aggies.”