Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko met with reporters Monday following another disappointing performance from his team.
The Aggies fell 27-6 at Missouri and failed to score a touchdown for the second time in three games. A&M is now 3-3 overall and 1-3 in SEC play after entering the season with hopes of returning to the College Football Playoff.
Elko acknowledged that the problems extend throughout the program and said everything must be considered as the staff searches for answers. He also addressed his postgame comments about the media, discussed the offensive struggles and explained his involvement with the defense.
Texas A&M returns to Kyle Field on Saturday to face The Citadel. The Aggies should have an opportunity to regain some confidence against
an FCS opponent, but Elko made it clear that the team must show improvement rather than simply expect its problems to disappear.
Below are quotes from coach Mike Elko ahead of the game against The Citadel
Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko gives thoughts on the game against Missouri
"Obviously, the thoughts on the game were summed up afterward. The film reflected it...The failures were at every level."
Mike Elko continues opening statment
"We're in a situation where we have to improve, and we have to get better. There is a tremendous amount of fight in our players, coaches and our building to go do it, but we have to go do it."
Mike Elko addresses post comments about the media
"In the heat of the moment, I answered a question that I certainly regret. Everyone knows I have a tremendous relationship with Billy....Everybody knows that I appreciate our fanbase, everything they're about and everything they mean to Texas A&M."
Mike Elko on making major offensive changes moving forward
"Everything has to be on the table. We're at that point, for sure...It's hard to make revolutionary changes in our current situation because you have to allow the kids opportunities to have success, and massive shifts are going to create execution issues."
Mike Elko on his role with the defensive play calling
"Lyle is calling the games. That was an important step just so I could have the freedom to be involved in everything, and that was probably to our detriment for a couple of weeks LSU, Kentucky."
Mike Elko on how well he feels like he can tune out the noise
"Am I? Yes, I think I'm very effective."
Mike Elko on what he believes why practice is not transferring to Saturdays
"What we're getting on Saturdays is not what we got in fall camp, it's not what we're getting in practice. It's just not translating. That, to me, is a mental issue."
Mike Elko on where the focus is with the CFP out of the picture
"Our focus right now is just getting better. Our kids want to put a better on the field. Our fans deserve a better product on the field...It's all about daily improvement and getting to a product on the field that is more representative of Texas A&M football."
Mike Elko on this tough stretch
"The weight that I carry is for these kids and these coaches to have the success that they deserve for the amount of time and energy they're putting into this thing."
"You know what they experience. You know what they put into this. To not find a way to find success for them, that eats at you as a coach."
Mike Elko on his coordinators
"We do all of our coaching evaluations internally, and those are things we'll keep internally in our building."
Mike Elko on what gives him confidence moving forward
"The biggest confidence that I take, and I've been a part of bad seasons where things splinter and fracture… What gives me confidence is that none of that has happened. For the most part, our kids are showing up in the right frame of mind to go to work."
Mike Elko on the finding success on offense
"We are not just doing the same thing over and over again. The results are the same...We'll continue to go back to the drawing board to figure out what the formula is to find success."
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Everything Mike Elko said ahead of Texas A&M vs. The Citadel
