Emilio Fantastico said:

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He doesn't need a raise. He has an incentive laden contract that, if he keeps winning, will pay him plenty.

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Bigger $$ can come calling.

I am very happy with an 8-0 start for the first time since 1992, but we have lost 4 consecutive November SEC games and 6 consecutive November or later games to Power 4 opponents since a 51-10 win over Mississippi State on 11/11/2023.

11/25/2023: 42-30 loss at 10-3 (6-2 SEC) LSU
12/27/2023: 31-23 loss to 10-4 (7-2 Big 12) Oklahoma State in the 2023 Texas Bowl
11/2/2024: 44-20 loss at 9-4 (5-3 SEC) South Carolina
11/23/2024: 43-41 4-OT loss at 5-7 (2-6 SEC) Auburn
11/30/2024: 17-7 home loss to 13-3 (7-1 SEC) Texas
12/27/2024: 35-31 loss to 7-6 (4-5 Big 10) USC in the 2024 Las Vegas Bowl

Also, we have lost 7 consecutive November or later road games since a 34-13 win at Tennessee on 12/19/2020.

11/13/2021: 29-19 loss at 10-3 (6-2 SEC) Ole Miss
11/27/2021: 27-24 loss at 6-7 (3-5 SEC) LSU
11/12/2022: 13-10 loss at 5-7 (2-6 SEC) Auburn
11/4/2023: 38-35 loss at 11-2 (6-2 SEC) Ole Miss
11/25/2023: 42-30 loss at 10-3 (6-2 SEC) LSU
11/2/2024: 44-20 loss at 9-4 (5-3 SEC) South Carolina
11/23/2024: 43-41 4-OT loss at 5-7 (2-6 SEC) Auburn

I would like to see us go 2-1 in November SEC games against Missouri (away), South Carolina (home), and Texas (away), which would mean winning a November or later road game for the first time since December 2020.

Emilio Fantastico said:

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He doesn't need a raise. He has an incentive laden contract that, if he keeps winning, will pay him plenty.

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I think I saw that if he were to win an SEC Championship and then go on to win a National Championship, his total compensation would be between $10-11 million - which is pretty much base pay for the top jobs today. I would have thought that if he were to win a NC, that the incentive would be better than that..

Maybe they will finally learn that you can pay someone a ton of money without also owing them a billion if you end up firing them in the future.

I would rather have a contract that over pays in salary but is lower on buyouts. Maybe pay him top 2 in annual salary but only guarantee the first three years. If he flops the next two years you only owe him one more instead of seven years worth.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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Let's just do it now, he's earned it

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Raise but no extension ever.

If Elko wins the national championship, he will still be getting paid less than Lincoln Riley.

We will not be able to keep him on his current contract, period.

Orangutan said:

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If Elko wins the national championship, he will still be getting paid less than Lincoln Riley.

We will not be able to keep him on his current contract, period.

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This. The market dictates an in-demand coach's pay, not how much a previous contract embarrassed or ****ed over A&M.
We can appreciate an incentive-based contract but to be so against a mid-season raise and say "not until he wins SECCG and Natty" denies the reality of the coaching market and is incredibly ignorant

Again, there is a school out there that covered up pedophilia to continue competing at a high level. There are schools who will do literally anything to win. Money is the easiest lever

Orangutan said:

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If Elko wins the national championship, he will still be getting paid less than Lincoln Riley.

We will not be able to keep him on his current contract, period.

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Depends on the intent of that contract. Are those incentives aggregate or cumulative? That makes a lot of difference in the payout.

infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

So many clueless Ags demanding we make the same mistake as we did with Summy and Jimbo.

Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

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Sure it does.

It works as we play it. If Elko wants to go after 8-0 when he can win the MNC here, he can sure GTFO. Risk is there for him also, he was not about to win the MNC at Duke. He is likely to go elsewhere, lay an egg and get fired in 3-4 years.

He has something great going on here. But let him do something that matters more than "we got to 8-0". Good but doesn't matter until you win something.

Lots of people here looking to spend other people's money. Much like Democrats and Socialists!

Have we not learned our lesson with the past few times we did this?

Let's hold off on long-term contracts until the coach proves we can have long-term success with him.

AggieUSMC said:

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Have we not learned our lesson with the past few times we did this?

Let's hold off on long-term contracts until the coach proves we can have long-term success with him.

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Ags never learn.

Orangutan said:

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If Elko wins the national championship, he will still be getting paid less than Lincoln Riley.

We will not be able to keep him on his current contract, period.

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If Elko wins the national championship THEN (and only THEN) he'll basically be handed a blank check by the athletic department.

infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

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Sure it does.

It works as we play it. If Elko wants to go after 8-0 when he can win the MNC here, he can sure GTFO. Risk is there for him also, he was not about to win the MNC at Duke. He is likely to go elsewhere, lay an egg and get fired in 3-4 years.

He has something great going on here. But let him do something that matters more than "we got to 8-0". Good but doesn't matter until you win something.

Lots of people here looking to spend other people's money. Much like Democrats and Socialists!

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You are simply disconnected from supply and demand in addition to the current market.

A coach with one playoff appearance and no titles just got $11.6 million for 8 years and almost all guaranteed. That's your floor in the market for those accomplishments.

You now have huge openings all vying for a limited pool of coaches. Leave Elko out there at $7 million base plus incentives you might as well put a bow on him and pay for shipping.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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zooguy96 said:

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StinkyPinky said:

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zooguy96 said:

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Typical.

He hasn't won anything.

Let's see an SEC championship, playoff birth, etc.

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He has awakened the hearts and minds of players, alumni, fans, and most importantly Kirk Herbstreit….

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But he still hasn't won anything. We should only give raises to coaches who win something.

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Serious question, if he has a deal on the table from Penn State right now and he walks unless you match the offer right now what would you want us to do?

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Let him walk. If he already has a deal on the table then he is not committed to his current contract and obligations and thus not what I see as a good influence. In fact if he already had a deal on the table, I would fire him immediately for cause no buy out and no payment of the remainder of his salary. Any negotiations that go on during an active season should absolutely be justification for immediate termination as the coach is no longer doing their job they are trying to do a different one. Did anyone learn anything during the baseball fiasco last spring? Contracts for coaches should have a decent not exorbitant base salary and huge incentives and big penalties. Plain and simple hold folks accountable on both sides of the contract.

"Drugs"

Josh Pate's response to many on this thread.

To those thinking A&M would let Elko walk, you are stupid.

There is no contract language that forbids his agent from fielding offers. In fact, it's the duty of his agent to do so. The coach would never have these discussions directly anyway.

Second, it's easy to say let him walk. But who do you replace him with? In the most competitive coaching market ever this you want to bargain shop AND signal that long term you won't pony up even with early success. Good luck finding some one worth a *****

Let's talk after November

AgWhoop2015 said:

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Its still October gents

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status:confirmed

King of the Dairy Queen said:

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you dont pay coaches to win you pay coaches not to leave

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I don't know why people can't grasp this

Do you honestly think Elko wouldn't bring an offer back to TAMU leadership if he received it? Just keep winning and wait until we hear something from him / his agent.

Ghost of Bisbee said:

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Orangutan said:

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If Elko wins the national championship, he will still be getting paid less than Lincoln Riley.

We will not be able to keep him on his current contract, period.

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This. The market dictates an in-demand coach's pay, not how much a previous contract embarrassed or ****ed over A&M.
We can appreciate an incentive-based contract but to be so against a mid-season raise and say "not until he wins SECCG and Natty" denies the reality of the coaching market and is incredibly ignorant

Again, there is a school out there that covered up pedophilia to continue competing at a high level. There are schools who will do literally anything to win. Money is the easiest lever

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REALITY is easy to ignore when we are making theoretical decisions from a keyboard (that's me too by the way). The fact is that Elko will get some calls. The perception in the media, and probably coaches, ADs etc., is that he has changed the culture at a place that has been openly criticised for a long time as being soft. Add to that what he accomplished as a DC and then over at Duke, and you bet he is being considered for every major that is open (and probably some that might not have pulled the trigger yet).

I do not like the idea of a raise at this point for all of the very obvious reasons. But if you are not answering this question first: "Am I ok losing Elko to someone who will pay him now?" and considering the consequences of the person(s) who are actually making the decision, you are looking through BAS/maroon colored lenses.

Elko likely gets something restructured over the next few weeks if the decision makers are convinced he is the guy.

Prepare yourself for it. Or, prepare to have him snatched up. I do not see a scenario where he stays put under his current contract. Not with the high profile/high salary jobs we see coming open. We shall see.

Teslag said:

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King of the Dairy Queen said:

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you dont pay coaches to win you pay coaches not to leave

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I don't know why people can't grasp this

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This not just a coach's thing.

This is how the world works in every single industry.

Raises happen the majority of the time to keep from losing talent.

Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

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Sure it does.

It works as we play it. If Elko wants to go after 8-0 when he can win the MNC here, he can sure GTFO. Risk is there for him also, he was not about to win the MNC at Duke. He is likely to go elsewhere, lay an egg and get fired in 3-4 years.

He has something great going on here. But let him do something that matters more than "we got to 8-0". Good but doesn't matter until you win something.

Lots of people here looking to spend other people's money. Much like Democrats and Socialists!

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You are simply disconnected from supply and demand in addition to the current market.

A coach with one playoff appearance and no titles just got $11.6 million for 8 years and almost all guaranteed. That's your floor in the market for those accomplishments.

You now have huge openings all vying for a limited pool of coaches. Leave Elko out there at $7 million base plus incentives you might as well put a bow on him and pay for shipping.

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We say what our highly connected administration did with Sumlin and Jimbo with incomplete results. No more. If we want to be a serious team, we have to expect serious results. Not incomplete ones.


Elko should get a bonus if he gets to the PO. Then bonus if he gets to every stage. MNC, sure give him a new deal.

Have you thought of the situation where you give him a Jimboesque deal and we lose the remaning 4 games and end up 8-4? What happens then? You will sneak away and pretend you never demanded a deal for Elko, what about the people signing the deal (yes, we know, they will sneak away too).

Teslag said:

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King of the Dairy Queen said:

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you dont pay coaches to win you pay coaches not to leave

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I don't know why people can't grasp this

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You say this because it is not your money. It is A&M's money. And A&M isn't one person, it is a corporation so Bjork type of dorks could get away.

Use common sense and you will see what we mean.

King of the Dairy Queen said:

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does anyone really think if we finally tasted success and elko won a conference championship he wouldnt be the highest paid coach in the country? We are the joneses.

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We have NOTHING yet. We might, sure. But now? NOTHING. 8-0 means nothing.

Are you Elko's agent or what?

Just trying to manifest that raise?

infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

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Sure it does.

It works as we play it. If Elko wants to go after 8-0 when he can win the MNC here, he can sure GTFO. Risk is there for him also, he was not about to win the MNC at Duke. He is likely to go elsewhere, lay an egg and get fired in 3-4 years.

He has something great going on here. But let him do something that matters more than "we got to 8-0". Good but doesn't matter until you win something.

Lots of people here looking to spend other people's money. Much like Democrats and Socialists!

---

You are simply disconnected from supply and demand in addition to the current market.

A coach with one playoff appearance and no titles just got $11.6 million for 8 years and almost all guaranteed. That's your floor in the market for those accomplishments.

You now have huge openings all vying for a limited pool of coaches. Leave Elko out there at $7 million base plus incentives you might as well put a bow on him and pay for shipping.

---

We say what our highly connected administration did with Sumlin and Jimbo with incomplete results. No more. If we want to be a serious team, we have to expect serious results. Not incomplete ones.


Elko should get a bonus if he gets to the PO. Then bonus if he gets to every stage. MNC, sure give him a new deal.

Have you thought of the situation where you give him a Jimboesque deal and we lose the remaning 4 games and end up 8-4? What happens then? You will sneak away and pretend you never demanded a deal for Elko, what about the people signing the deal (yes, we know, they will sneak away too).

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I can only speak for me but pointing out the reality of the situation is not demanding a contract for Elko. It sounds like you are ok with him leaving, that is fine. If you were making the decision you would probably lose him. Elkos risk is softened by a huge payday. The other side of the coin is not ok with him leaving and in that scenario you have to do something. Not likely he stays under the current structure. Possible, but not likely. It is not an easy decision. Now if I have Dan Campbell in my pocket, maybe I am ready to play hardball with Mike.

In this market, I think his base salary should go up.

HoustonAg2106 said:

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Let's just do it now, he's earned it

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Comments like this show me that some Ags will never learn

AgFan1974 said:

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infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Teslag said:

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infinity ag said:

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Raise ONLY if he wins the MNC.

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Ya that's not how this market works

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Sure it does.

It works as we play it. If Elko wants to go after 8-0 when he can win the MNC here, he can sure GTFO. Risk is there for him also, he was not about to win the MNC at Duke. He is likely to go elsewhere, lay an egg and get fired in 3-4 years.

He has something great going on here. But let him do something that matters more than "we got to 8-0". Good but doesn't matter until you win something.

Lots of people here looking to spend other people's money. Much like Democrats and Socialists!

---

You are simply disconnected from supply and demand in addition to the current market.

A coach with one playoff appearance and no titles just got $11.6 million for 8 years and almost all guaranteed. That's your floor in the market for those accomplishments.

You now have huge openings all vying for a limited pool of coaches. Leave Elko out there at $7 million base plus incentives you might as well put a bow on him and pay for shipping.

---

We say what our highly connected administration did with Sumlin and Jimbo with incomplete results. No more. If we want to be a serious team, we have to expect serious results. Not incomplete ones.


Elko should get a bonus if he gets to the PO. Then bonus if he gets to every stage. MNC, sure give him a new deal.

Have you thought of the situation where you give him a Jimboesque deal and we lose the remaning 4 games and end up 8-4? What happens then? You will sneak away and pretend you never demanded a deal for Elko, what about the people signing the deal (yes, we know, they will sneak away too).

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I can only speak for me but pointing out the reality of the situation is not demanding a contract for Elko. It sounds like you are ok with him leaving, that is fine. If you were making the decision you would probably lose him. Elkos risk is softened by a huge payday. The other side of the coin is not ok with him leaving and in that scenario you have to do something. Not likely he stays under the current structure. Possible, but not likely. It is not an easy decision. Now if I have Dan Campbell in my pocket, maybe I am ready to play hardball with Mike.

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I don't want him to leave. He is in Year 2 and things look encouraging. If I owned A&M, I would not want to overspend either. So it is a judgment call.

What would you do if it was your own money?