Aggies coach takes a creative approach to solving discipline issues ahead of Mississippi State
Texas A&M might be 4-0 for the first time since 2016, but Mike Elko isn’t letting the record hide a glaring issue. The Aggies are among the most penalized teams in the SEC, and Saturday’s 16-10 win over Auburn was another example of self-inflicted damage. Thirteen penalties stalled drives, erased big plays, and nearly let Auburn back into the game.
Elko didn’t sugarcoat it in his weekly press conference. “We just had too many penalties, and penalties kill drives,” he said. “It’s a problem. It’s something we have to get fixed and addressed.”
He offered a mix of accountability and humor with a new strategy: the “Texas A&M Coaches Cabo Fund.” Every penalty will require a player contribution. While the fund is tongue-in-cheek, Elko hopes it drives home the point.
Many penalties factored into this decision. Two personal fouls from Albert Regis and Chase Bisontis pushed the offense off schedule. A touchdown pass from Marcel Reed to Mario Craver was erased by a flag, followed by an interception on the next play. Repeated pre-snap mistakes, which Elko admitted “drive you crazy as a coach.”
The Aggies average 9.5 penalties per game, ranking near the top of the SEC in both flags and penalty yards. Saturday’s showdown with Mississippi State, another heavily penalized team, could hinge on which side cleans things up first.
Elko’s message is clear: tighten up the discipline, or the Aggies’ unbeaten start won’t last.
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