Texas A&M's Mike Elko says he regrets 'cesspool' remark after loss at Missouri

Two days after calling a large share of his fan base a cesspool, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said Monday that he regrets the remark. He made the comment after the Aggies' 27-6 loss at Missouri.

The comment came Saturday, Pro Football Network reported. On3's Carter Karels asked Elko what he would tell a worried fan base. Elko separated the fans in general from the people on social media, then dismissed the community around TexAgs publisher Billy Liucci by calling it a cesspool. He then asked supporters to stay behind the team. On Monday, with Liucci in the room, Elko changed his tone. "I think in the heat of the moment I think I answered a question in a way that I certainly regret," he said, according to Pro Football Network.

Elko said he has a strong relationship with Liucci and appreciates the fan base. He also said he never blamed anyone but himself in that postgame news conference. Liucci had written on X on Saturday that there was no need to call out a big, frustrated part of the fan base right after a lopsided loss. By Monday, appearing on Wake Up Barstool, he said he understood Elko had not been taking a shot at him. Elko also returned to a comment from earlier this season. After the loss to Kentucky, he had said everybody was quitting on the team, and he said Monday that he meant the noise in and around the program, not the fans.

Fan reaction to the apology was split, and much of it turned to the offense. The Aggies managed 216 total yards at Missouri. They ran for 29 yards on 23 carries and converted 5 of 18 third downs. All of their points came on David Olano field goals of 53 and 27 yards. Missouri's Jamal Roberts ran for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Senior quarterback Marcel Reed completed 19 of 39 passes for 187 yards, threw two interceptions and was sacked three times.

Elko was asked Saturday why sophomore Brady Hart hasn't gotten a chance at quarterback. He said that move did not feel like one that would help the team, though he added that it has to be evaluated going forward. On Monday he said he is the reason the team is struggling.

What it means this week

The loss dropped Texas A&M to 3-3 overall and 1-3 in the SEC, its third defeat in four games. Last season the Aggies went 11-2 and made the College Football Playoff for the first time. Pro Football Network's playoff model gives them a 0.4% chance of returning.

Next up is The Citadel (2-4) at Kyle Field on Saturday at 1 p.m. EDT on SECN+. The same model gives the Aggies a 97.9% chance to win. That makes the game less a test of the result than of whether the offense can show signs of life and whether the quarterback situation changes. A trip to Alabama follows on Oct. 24, and Pro Football Network gives A&M a 26.2% chance to win that one. After Monday, the questions around College Station are less about the apology and more about how this team gets to the end zone.