Elko closes curtains on 'circus' with major culture shift in Year 1

When they go to the Las Vegas Bowl, the Aggies will be staying at a luxury resort on the Strip.

Had they previously played in Vegas, they should have stayed at Circus Circus.

Texas A&M linebacker Taurean York suggested as much in a postgame press conference following a regular season-closing loss to Texas.

“I always tell people, it used to be a circus around here,” York said. “Now it’s a college football program. It feels like home for a lot of people. We have a really good locker room. Nobody in our locker room, in all of our losses, nobody has been pointing the finger because we understand it’s a cumulative effort with the team. And it takes everyone to win, coaches included, staff included.”

Indirect criticism of a previous coaching regime is rather common. When a coaching change is made, players typically rave about the new offensive scheme or praise a more aggressive defensive system.

But calling the pre-Mike Elko program a circus is alarming, especially when the appraisal comes from York, a high-character team captain.

Just as alarming, well before York arrived at A&M, there were plenty of clown-like antics to support York’s comments.

You remember the stories:

Players sneaking out of the team hotel to attend a party at Prairie View A&M. Another player speeding through parking garages. Others vaping while in uniform in the locker room at South Carolina. A guy opting out of a conference game because he was told not to wear sleeves. Opting out of a bowl game and therefore sacrificing 15 extra practices, which many coaches consider more valuable than the game itself.

Perhaps the greatest example of the circus was the spectacular failure of the celebrated 2022 recruiting class.

What was considered the greatest recruiting class in college football history may be the most disappointing.

From that 30-player haul, only four were on all-conference teams this year. Running back Le’Veon Moss and defensive end Shemar Stewart earned All-SEC recognition for A&M. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen, who transferred to Ole Miss, was also All-SEC. Offensive tackle PJ Williams, who transferred to SMU, was an All-ACC third-team selection.

Almost everyone else had mundane years and mundane careers. Some are already out of football. Some are playing in lesser “group of five” conferences. Some have been failed by injuries. Some by attitude, which have resulted in multiple transfers.

Yet, for so many to fail — or at least fall far short of expectations — would seem a symptom of dysfunction.

Injuries happen. Nobody can be blamed for them.

Zoe Kelton, TexAgs

Texas A&M managed eight regular-season wins in 2024 for the first time since 2021.

But did the previous regime fail to properly vet prospects? Were possible character issues ignored? Why did so many fail to develop? Was it a matter of a lax strength and conditioning program? Was it a coaching issue, unable to instruct proper technique? Was there a lack of accountability or expectation?

Probably yes, yes, yes and … well, you get the idea.

Maybe that’s why there is hope for A&M’s football future.

Despite a disappointing finish, Elko’s first team managed more victories (8) than any of the previous two teams, which included players from the 2022 recruiting class.

He did that with just seven active players from the 2022 class, a few other holdovers, a load of transfers and a few freshman contributors from the ’24 class, which was ranked 19th.

For the most part, A&M played hard on the field and had little to no drama off the field.

The Aggies were not a championship team, but at least they weren’t a circus.