Among many questionable decisions Texas A&M has made through the first eight weeks, Mike Elko's choice to punt the football down 11 points in the fourth quarter against Alabama on Saturday may have topped them all.
The decision ultimately led to the Crimson Tide securing a 31-20 win, despite the Aggies holding a lead entering the fourth quarter. Texas A&M's loss dropped them to 4-4 on the year, including a 1-4 mark in SEC play, with two ranked opponents remaining on the docket.
Elko's decision-making in the showdown against the Tide drew heavy criticism from the fan base and college football media. At this point in the year, with College Football Playoff hopes shattered and trailing by 11, itis hard to believe punting the ball down 11 with under
five minutes left was the right answer.
According to Elko, he felt his team had a chance to shut down Alabama's rushing attack and prevent them from doing more damage or running out too much time.
“I just felt like we had a better shot. At that point, we were really stopping the run, and Marcel had just gotten walloped, and it just felt like we had a better shot of going out trying to stop them, call the timeout and go than we did converting with how we were holding up and protecting at that point. It just didn't seem like we were in a position to convert that," Elko said.
Since Elko was extended by Texas A&M last year, the program is 0-5 against ranked opponents, a result of poor decision-making and execution. The Aggies have shown no signs of improvement since this year's slippery slope began with a loss to the Kentucky Wildcats on September 19.
If this coaching staff continues down this slippery slope and can't put things back together, this season could get much uglier.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: 'I just felt like we had a better shot': Texas A&M HC defends punt decision
