Here is everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko said following the 23-13 loss to Notre Dame
The Mike Elko era has started with a loss, as the Aggies fell to No. 7 Notre Dame on Saturday night inside Kyle Field. 107,315 fans packed in for the fourth-largest attendance record in school history. In a defensive battle until the end, Texas A&M's offense was borderline anemic, while Notre Dame starting quarterback Riley Leonard made several late plays to secure the victory.
Entering the game, Texas A&M's offense, led by redshirt sophomore quarterback Conner Weigman, had several question marks surrounding its ability to move the ball at a consistent clip under new OC Collin Klein, and after Saturday's results; there's a lot of work to be done.
Weigman, who returned to the field after missing the final eight games of the 2023 season, had the worst game of his young career, throwing for 100 yards and two interceptions. The Aggies' ground game produced 146 yards and a Le'Veon Moss touchdown, who led the group with 70 rushing yards on the night. Ugly doesn't truly describe what we saw on Saturday, but hey, this group did face one of the top defenses in the country.
Defensively, outside Notre Dame's two touchdowns, A&M's defense was much faster, producing 61 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, and two pass deflections on the night while looking much improve in the secondary behind junior cornerback Will Lee, who had a team-high 8 solo tackles on the night. However, the defense failed to register a sack, the run defense allowed 198 yards on the ground.
After the loss, head coach Mike Elko, left tackle Trey Zuhn, and linebacker Taurean York spoke to the media. Here's what all three had to say.
Elko on Conner Weigman's performance on the night
"We got to go back to the tape and find out to put him in better situations to get him comfortable."
"He was not in rhythm, and there was nothing easy. We kept trying. Just couldn't get there."
Elko on Conner Weigman, yes, throwing up during midgame
"In the heat of the moment just got a little sick. Puke and rally."
Elko on face his former QB, Riley Leonard
"It wasn't fun."
"I told him I loved him after the game. I will be rooting for the kid for the rest of his life."
Elko on the message he sent to the team after the loss
"I told the locker room for us to get this program over the hump, we have to put ourselves in the position to play the game the way we need to, and we didn't do that tonight."
Left tackle Trey Zuhn III on the loss
"We beat ourselves, mentally and physically."
Trey Zuhn on findiing consistency on offense
"We learned we have glimpses where we are a good football team, but we need to show we can strain every play, every drive to be successful."
Zuhn's overall feelings after the loss
"It stings bad. We will keep our heads up and get to work tomorrow."
Elko on the Aggie defense defense
"We were bad, off schedule tonight on defense."
"We have to look at what we are doing… We got on our heels because we won first down."
Linebacker Taurean York on the defensive breakdowns
"The breakdown was me. I missed a tackle on the long touchdown."
"They ran 200 yards, and most of that was in the second half. It's on me at the end of the day."
"198 yards is no bueno, and it starts with me. That will be fixed."
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Here is everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko said following the 23-13 loss to Notre Dame
