Texas A&M walked out of Saturday in rough shape, and Mike Elko didn’t spend much time sugarcoating the mood.
The Aggies went on the road to face No. 14 Missouri and actually opened with some promise, holding a 3-0 lead after the first quarter.
After that, the game swung hard in the Tigers’ direction. Missouri outscored Texas A&M 27-3 over the final three quarters and rolled to a 27-6 win.
That result leaves Texas A&M at 3-3 overall, a steep drop from last year’s 11-win run.
Elko’s frustration showed up in his postgame comments, where he took direct aim at a major Aggies fan community. He referred to the TexAgs community as “Billy’s cesspool” because the site 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.”
For a team already trying to dig itself out of a slump, the public shot at the program’s biggest online hub only adds to the noise around the Aggies right now.
Texas A&M’s next chance to turn things around comes next Saturday against The Citadel Bulldogs at 1 p.m. ET.
In Other News...
Texas A&M Fans Are Turning On Marcel Reed Midgame
Midgame frustration had already started to spill over at halftime of Texas A&Ms matchup with Missouri, as Marcel Reeds uneven first half gave the home crowd plenty to gripe about. The Aggies starting quarterback was 5 of 13 for 47 yards with two interceptions, and both turnovers came off deflections, a rough stretch that quickly became the focal point of the conversation around the offense.
From there, the reaction turned predictably loud, with some fans and commentators pushing for Mike Elko to make a change under center. The debate is less about one bad half than about what comes next for Texas A&M if the rhythm never returns, and whether a switch would actually provide the spark supporters are demanding. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&Ms Offense Has A Much Bigger Problem Than One Bad Game
Texas A&Ms latest road trip offered a familiar kind of frustration on offense, and it went beyond one cold afternoon. Through three quarters, the Aggies could not even crack 100 yards, a jarring sign for a unit that has already been uneven away from home. The problems showed up everywhere at once, from shaky quarterback play and penalties to a ground game that never got going and an offensive line still searching for stability.
Even with the defense holding up for much of the game, the margin for error has become thin for an offense stuck in neutral. The concern now is less about whether Texas A&M can clean up one poor showing and more about how it will navigate what comes next, with a tougher stretch of opponents waiting and few signs yet that the offense has found a reliable identity on the road. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M Just Lost The Break Fans Were Hoping For
Missouris injury picture looked like it might give Texas A&M a little breathing room heading into Saturdays matchup, but that window appears to have closed. The Tigers had several key players listed as questionable earlier in the week, creating at least the possibility of a shorthanded lineup, which would have been a welcome break for the Aggies in a game that already carries plenty of weight.
Instead, the game day report points the other way. Players such as Cayden Green, Santana Banner and Robert Woodyard are now expected to play, along with Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen, and all of the previously questionable Missouri players have been removed from the list. For Texas A&M, that means the challenge looks a lot closer to full strength than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
