Mike Elko claims calling Texas A&M the 'flagship program' in the state was misinterpreted

Now going into his second season as the head coach of the Texas A&M Aggies, Mike Elko is looking to take another major step forward. Despite that, some comments that he made when he first took the job in Aggieland have popped back up at SEC Media Days.

When Elko took over, he called Texas A&M the state’s flagship program. That stuck with a lot of Texas Longhorns fans, naturally. However, as he tried to explain, that wasn’t mentioned as a shot at the Longhorns at all.

“I don’t think I was considering anything else,” Mike Elko said. “I wasn’t comparing anything else, I was making a statement in regards to our role in impacting high school coaches in our state. So, I think, maybe like a lot of things, that maybe got misinterpreted.”

This isn’t the first time Elko has been asked about those flagship program comments. He was also asked about it last July at SEC Media Days. He’d give a similar answer there, pointing to high school recruiting and arguing he wasn’t taking a shot at Texas.

“I think that statement was made in reference to our role focusing with high school coaches in the state than it was comparing us to any other school in the state. I just think — and I followed it up after with saying one of,” Elko said in the summer of 2024. “It’s not about — we have two great brands in this state. And the nice thing now is we’re in the same conference and we play each other. That stuff will get settled in recruiting battles and on the field. We believe we have an infrastructure and the resources at Texas A&M to be the premier football program in the country. We’re not the only school that thinks that. I think our focus is trying to become the best version of ourself. If we do that, the success will follow with that.”

In 2024, Texas moved to the SEC, and the two sides would renew their rivalry on the field. That first game came at the end of the season at Kyle Field. There was plenty on the line too, with both teams still in play for the SEC Championship at the time. In the end, it would be the Longhorns who won and went to the SEC Championship Game.

The two will again renew their rivalry at the end of the 2025 season. This time in Austin. That’s going to be a challenge, and Mike Elko knows it. At the same time, it’s not what he’s focused on just yet.

“I think there’s a lot between now and then. I think I’ll say what I’ve said about that game. It’s great that that game is back. I think with the way those two programs are operating and executing right now,” Elko said. “That the game is going to mean something at the end of the year. And I think that’s awesome for college football. I think it’s awesome for the state of Texas. I think it’s awesome for those two universities. So, it’s a great game, it’s a great rivalry, and we certainly look forward to the challenge.”

Before Elko and Texas A&M worry about Texas, they’ll have to worry about the rest of the regular season. That starts on August 30th against UTSA.