Texas A&M’s Saturday in Columbia was rough enough on the scoreboard. Then Mike Elko made it even messier after the game.
The Aggies went to No. 14 Missouri and actually held things together early, taking a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.
From there, though, Missouri took control and never let go. Texas A&M managed only three more points the rest of the way and was beaten 27-6 after getting outscored 27-3 over the final three quarters.
That loss pushed Texas A&M to 3-3 overall, a steep fall from last season’s 11-win run and first College Football Playoff berth.
Elko’s postgame remarks drew almost as much attention as the result itself. He took aim at a major Aggies online fan community and singled out TexAgs, calling it “Billy’s cesspool” in reference to the fact that the community is run by Billy Liucci.
“There’s a difference to me between the fan base and social media. So there’s one group that I really don’t care much about.
Billy’s cesspool (at TexAgs) can go be Billy’s cesspool,” Elko said, via On3’s Carter Karels. “Our fan base, stay with us, be behind us.
We’re going to build something that we told you we were going to build. So we’re in a really bad spot right now, but we’ll work our way out of it.”
The loss and the comments left Texas A&M in a bad place, with Elko now staring at a team trying to steady itself after another lopsided defeat.
Next up for the Aggies is The Citadel Bulldogs, with kickoff set for next Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
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Josh Heupel did not use the postgame spotlight to lock in the quarterback situation beyond this week, which keeps one of Tennessees biggest questions alive as Alabama comes to Neyland Stadium next. The Vols have plenty to feel good about after responding on the road, but the margin for error tightens quickly now, and the quarterback decision is one more layer to sort out before a marquee SEC showdown. [Read more 🡒]
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Josh Heupel offered a reassuring update on Inges condition, saying he is recovering well and should be released from the hospital around the middle of next week before beginning rehabilitation. For Tennessee, the news brings some needed relief after a quiet, worrying absence, and it gives the program a clearer sense of what comes next for a coach whose presence has been missed on the sideline and in the meeting room. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Heads Into Alabama Week With Something To Prove At Home
Tennessee is heading into one of the SECs biggest stage games with Alabama coming to Knoxville for a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC, and the matchup already has the feel of a measuring-stick afternoon. FanDuel lists the Crimson Tide as 6.5-point favorites, with the over/under set at 54.5, which only adds to the sense that the Vols will need to make a statement at home if they want to change the conversation around the matchup.
Josh Heupel spent part of last week trying to keep his team grounded, denying Tennessee was peeking ahead to Alabama during the win over Arkansas. Now comes the part that matters most for Tennessees season, and for a fan base that knows how much this rivalry can swing on one game. The Vols will get their chance in front of their own crowd, with plenty still to prove when the Tide arrive. [Read more 🡒]
