Standing in the locker room in Sin City, hoping it actually unfolded, and actually staying in Las Vegas, Mike Elko faced the reality of his situation head on.
Taking over the Texas A&M Aggies football program was a challenging task. What he knew. In fact, his predecessor was denied in less than a day before stepping into the university station, and the person before him was paid tens of millions of dollars to leave the state.
It didn’t become him. But after a season at the helm, his Aggies were sweating and lost on a better record than in the past few years. They also led to fire.
The Aggies were not enough.
“This is what I said to our guys in the locker room,” Elko admitted following Texas A&M’s ultimate failure against the USC Trojan horse. “This is the reality of our situation.”
According to the coach, Aggies have learned to be accountable. Take care of each other. They practiced hard, learned a strong work ethic and how to become a team. It was amazed by the off-field chemistry of the roster and the overall culture of Aggieland.
But what escaped them was the products they placed in the field. After starting 6-0 and perfecting with SEC play, Texas A&M failed to win the final three meeting matches. That is, that last meaningful victory took place in October, with the exception of the expected tune-up victory in New Mexico.
And then the news arrived. Noah Thomas, the expected first option for next year’s AGGIES in his second year in Elco era, is not four days ago, but on the loss of the bowl for future preparations, next to his coach’s Fielding question. He sat next to the question and then left.
“We really wanted this,” Thomas said. “We really wanted this to be our first victory next season.”
Did the loss push him up to the edge? After all, he gave no indication that he was unhappy, and the Aggies welcomed several other receiving weapons through the transfer portal, one of the most powerful legions in the country, centered around rising seniors It was expected to create a piece.
Yes, Elko has played this game before. Before arriving at Texas A&M, he led the Duke Blue Devils to 16 wins in two seasons (16 totals over the past three years) and entered Maroon & White with similar expectations. But here he was.
Here, the Aggies are losing one of the bigger pieces of their “next year” team after serving as player representative for final media availability heading into the offseason.
It is very likely that Thomas’ departure is merely another cog in a very complex machine that runs the college football landscape. He probably didn’t like Maroons. Perhaps he has some major brand deals waiting for him at his next destination.
Or maybe he wasn’t the stars the Aggies he needed under Elko.
It’s not likely that fans of the program, especially the top 10 Thomas, with the most touchdowns in school history, will be a bitter one. Like Elko’s dull delivery, they told them they weren’t up to standard, like when he faced his roster after the final game of the season.
“It’s ultimately my fault,” Elko said. “We’re basically not enough.”
Along with Thomas, the Aggies hit in that category. Junior was a reliable weapon for Marcel Reed, but it appears he has no interest in what comes next after the Aggies. Luckily they have options.
Every year, Aggies lose stars. They look different as they work the transfer portal to improve their roster and fill in the gaps left by the departing players. Thomas is proof of this. It’s a tough reminder that no player is really uncontrollable.
Texas A&M has a long way to go – culturally, even football – Elko’s first year is behind him, so what’s thrusts along the way and thrusts are set to become his new legacy It’s been done. Now they are moving forward with the goal of getting better with football in mind.
And they rest easily knowing that they have a new foundation for success. It’s Thomas or not.
“We’re now where we need to come out from a cultural perspective,” Elko said. “Now we have to become a good soccer program. That’s the next step.”
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