Everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko on Wednesday's Aggie Football Hour ahead of facing LSU
Texas A&M's College Football Playoff hopes seem to be on the line every week. The Aggies are currently 6-1 and 4-0 in SEC play, but they will likely need to finish with a 10-2 or even 11-1 record to earn a spot in the new 12-team structure. However, after the Texas Longhorns sustained their first loss against Georgia last weekend, A&M's chances of reaching the SEC Championship game are still up for grabs.
After defeating Mississippi State 34-24 in Week 8, the Aggies return to Kyle Field for what looks like the biggest game of the year to date, as 8th-ranked LSU comes to town with an equally impressive six-game winning streak and a chance to take sole possession of first place in the SEC standings.
On Wednesday, head coach Mike Elko made his weekly appearance on the Aggie Football Hour to discuss Texas A&M's weekly progress while noting the critical nature of Saturday's matchup. Here's everything he had to say ahead of the game.
Mike Elko is very proud of his team continuously overcoming adversity this season
"We didn't play our best game."
"Part of championship DNA and part of championship mentality is that you just find a way."
Elko on the Aggies' performance in Starkville (MS)
"We didn't play our best, but we didn't play poorly."
"You never know how these things are going to play out. ... There are a lot of good players in this league, and they find ways to make plays."
Mike Elko and Texas A&M basketball HC Buzz Williams remain close friends
"I've stopped on him so often on my Instagram Reels that he's now part of my algorithm."
"I'll invite him. We'll get him on the plane and out to an (SEC road) game with us."
Elko on the success of every Texas A&M Atheltics head coach
"We've got a great network of coaches. I lean on all of them. Joni (Taylor) does a great job. I'm excited to see what Mike Earley does. Obviously, Pat Henry and all of his success."
Elko on Texas A&M linebacker Scooby Williams' development this season
"It's that validation we talk about. Nobody really notices until they notice. ... He has been really, really good for us. I've been really happy with his development."
"For him to impact that game the way he did and make the critical plays that he did, he overshadowed Taurean (York), who had a career-day too."
Elko's on QB Conner Weigman's progress after his shoulder injury, and relationship with OC Collin Klein
"He's becoming more of a student of the game. ... Sometimes, you play quarterback so long that you get into a rhythm. For him, it's like, 'Hey, let's elevate this thing.' Let's find the things we don't know."
"He's preparing like a pro. He spends a lot of time with Collin Klein."
More on Conner Weigman
"He has been really good about protecting the ball throughout his career. He had a couple get away from him. You watch the film, you evaluate, you learn."
"You just have to get back up there and throw the next throw."
We'll know the answer during Thursday's uniform unviel
"We haven't done the uniform reveal just yet, so I don't know what the uniforms will be."
"I think a black out would be really good."
Elko on Texas A&M's culture under his leadership
"You have to have it be their program. Everyone talks about how you keep this together in the transfer portal era. ... Part of the way you do it is you make your kids extremely proud of their program."
Elko on the 12th Man's impact this season
"There's a lot of things I worry about. One of the things I never worry about is where the 12th Man will be on Saturdays. ... They'll be there, giving us an incredible home-field advantage."
"Your fan base is here for you all the time. All the time. They love you. They don't turn their back on you."
"You're very blessed to be at a place where your fan base supports you all the time."
Elko on Texas A&M's practice schedule ahead of night games
"When you're in college, you don't get to flip your schedule around. You don't get a change in classes. ... We're in a rhythm where we practice in the mornings."
"From our standpoint, we wanted to go in the mornings because the hardest kicks are the 11 o'clocks. ... We like to get the boys up early, get a good breakfast in them and get our practices done in the morning."
Elko on his everchaning approach to utilizing analytics
"I always know what the analytics say. I know what the goal line is. Then it's a feel for it."
"Things shift and kind of move depending on how I feel in the moment."
Elko on his relationship with LSU head coach Brian Kelly
"That was my first dive into this high-level, high-profile world of college football. ... How you manage player performance, player psychology and all the things that came through those moments and pressures, I've really appreciated how he handles the psychology."
Elko on the need to become the most physical football team in the SEC
"We want to be a physical football team. We want to be a team that brings it every single time we step on the field."
12th Man, Mike Elko and the Aggies are depending on you!
"loud and proud" on Saturday night: "It's a big one. We're going to need everybody. Gig 'Em!"
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Texas A&M HC Mike Elko on Wednesday's Aggie Football Hour ahead of facing LSU