There are moments in college football where humor and heartbreak collide—moments that reveal the personality of a coach and the hard truths of roster management. Texas A\&M head football coach Mike Elko found himself embodying both ends of that spectrum during a recent media availability, where he humorously addressed an awkward moment involving the University of Texas’ fight song and then candidly delivered difficult news about former five-star defensive lineman Shemar Stewart’s future with the program. It was a reminder of just how multifaceted the job of a major college football coach has become, especially in a new era dominated by NIL deals, transfer portal churn, and the rekindling of historic rivalries.
Mike Elko, entering his second stint with the Aggies—this time as the head coach after serving as defensive coordinator under Jimbo Fisher from 2018 to 2021—has already shown that he’s comfortable in the spotlight and adept at walking the tightrope between levity and leadership. During SEC Media Days, Elko became the center of a light-hearted moment when he was asked about the viral video showing him singing the University of Texas’ fight song “The Eyes of Texas” at an event earlier this year. The video, which made the rounds on social media and even reached burnt orange message boards, raised eyebrows among A\&M faithful, many of whom are gearing up for the revival of the Texas–Texas A\&M rivalry as the Longhorns join the SEC.
When asked to address the incident, Elko leaned into the moment with wit and self-awareness. “Let me clear the air,” he said with a smirk. “I did not know the words to the Texas fight song. I was just trying to be polite. I thought we were singing karaoke or something. That wasn’t my proudest moment as an Aggie.” The room chuckled, and Elko earned a bit of goodwill for his candor and humor. In a high-pressure world like SEC football, being able to laugh at oneself—even over something as sacred as a rival’s fight song—can go a long way in building rapport with fans, players, and the media alike.
Elko’s response wasn’t just damage control—it was a microcosm of the kind of cultural leadership he’s trying to instill at Texas A\&M. Inheriting a program with high expectations but inconsistent results, he understands that success goes beyond X’s and O’s. It also requires emotional intelligence, authenticity, and an ability to manage optics. College football has become as much about branding and narrative as it is about game planning. Coaches who navigate that space well earn the trust of their locker room and their boosters. And Elko, who helped revive Duke’s football fortunes as head coach before returning to College Station, seems keenly aware of the power of perception.
But the light-hearted moment didn’t last long before Elko transitioned into a more sobering topic: the departure of defensive lineman Shemar Stewart. Once one of the crown jewels of Texas A\&M’s historic 2022 recruiting class—the highest-rated class in the modern recruiting era—Stewart was a former five-star prospect out of Miami who chose the Aggies over powerhouse programs like Alabama, Georgia, and Miami. His commitment had been viewed as a pivotal win for the program, not just because of his talent but also because of the national recruiting footprint it helped solidify.
However, Stewart’s tenure in College Station never quite lived up to the sky-high expectations. Despite flashing potential, he struggled to consistently crack the starting lineup and was often relegated to rotational snaps. Injuries and scheme fit may have played a role, but whispers of dissatisfaction had been circling for some time. After entering the transfer portal earlier this year, speculation remained about whether he might eventually return to A\&M, especially under the new coaching regime. But Elko put those rumors to bed definitively: “Shemar Stewart will not be returning to the program,” he said plainly. “We wish him the best in his future, but he’s chosen a different path.”
The news, while not entirely surprising, still stung for Aggie fans who had hoped Stewart’s immense potential would eventually be realized in maroon and white. His departure is emblematic of the broader challenges that come with managing talent in the NIL and transfer portal era. High-profile recruits enter college with both great expectations and immense leverage. If things don’t go their way early, the option to explore other programs—with potentially better financial or playing opportunities—is always available.
That dynamic places coaches like Elko in a constant juggling act. They must recruit with the future in mind while also retaining current players and managing team chemistry. Stewart’s exit, like many others from that ballyhooed 2022 class, raises valid questions about roster continuity and developmental timelines in a world where patience is in short supply. But it also offers a teaching moment—one that Elko seems well-equipped to embrace. “We’re focused on the guys who want to be here and who are bought into our vision,” he said. “This is about building something sustainable, something real.”
There’s also a broader context to consider. The rivalry with Texas is being reignited at a pivotal moment in college football’s evolution. For over a century, Texas and Texas A\&M had one of the fiercest and most storied rivalries in the sport. When the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC in 2012, the rivalry was put on ice, much to the dismay of fans and alumni. Now, with Texas joining the SEC in 2024, the rivalry returns not just as a spectacle but as a cultural battleground. Every gesture, every perceived slight, every moment like Elko’s awkward sing-along will be scrutinized through the lens of this rekindled enmity.
For Elko, the timing is both a blessing and a burden. He has the opportunity to lead Texas A\&M into a new chapter of the rivalry with a clean slate and a bold vision. But he also carries the weight of expectation—both to win and to uphold the Aggie identity in contrast to their burnt orange counterparts. In that sense, the viral video wasn’t just a funny blip. It was a reminder of how high the emotional stakes are in this rivalry and how every action is magnified.
Meanwhile, Stewart’s departure forces A\&M to re-evaluate the strategy that brought in so much top-tier talent in the first place. Was the 2022 class a cautionary tale about over-reliance on star ratings? Did the culture within the program struggle to support the development of those high-profile players? Or was it simply a product of the times—an era where mobility, opportunity, and financial considerations outweigh traditional loyalty and long-term development?
Elko doesn’t seem interested in excuses. His track record suggests a coach who values accountability, discipline, and adaptability. At Duke, he took a program with little football tradition and quickly turned them into an ACC contender. He did so not by chasing five-star recruits but by building a tough, cohesive, and well-coached team. That blueprint may be precisely what Texas A\&M needs now—less sizzle, more substance. It’s telling that in interviews, Elko often emphasizes “fit” over flash. He’s not chasing highlight tapes; he’s chasing guys who want to be Aggies for the right reasons.
That philosophy will be tested right away. The Aggies face a brutal SEC slate, and their margin for error is thin. The roster still boasts plenty of talent, including returning stars like linebacker Taurean York and wideout Evan Stewart, but depth and cohesion will be critical. The loss of players like Shemar Stewart, no matter how inevitable, creates both a leadership vacuum and an opportunity. Younger players will be asked to step up. Coaches will be asked to develop quickly. And fans will need to recalibrate their expectations—not just for wins and losses, but for how the program defines success.
College football is changing rapidly. The lines between amateurism and professionalism have blurred. Loyalty is no longer a given; it must be earned—and re-earned constantly. Coaches have to recruit, retain, market, mentor, and mediate. They’re not just play-callers; they’re CEOs, brand managers, and emotional anchors for entire communities. Mike Elko’s performance at SEC Media Days—cracking jokes about a rival’s fight song one minute, delivering hard roster news the next—was a perfect encapsulation of the modern coach’s paradox. Be relatable. Be ruthless. Be real.
And that may ultimately be what defines Elko’s success in College Station. Not just how many games he wins, but how effectively he builds a culture that can withstand the turbulence of modern college football. One that can handle the departure of a prized recruit without losing its soul. One that can laugh at an awkward viral video without sacrificing its identity. One that can stare down its oldest rival and say, “We’re ready.”
The Aggie faithful are hopeful that Elko’s blend of pragmatism and personality will guide them through the noise. For now, the focus remains on the players who are still in the locker room, the recruits who still believe in the mission, and the battles that lie ahead on Saturdays. Texas A\&M doesn’t need perfection—it needs progress. And in that regard, Elko’s moment of humility and honesty may have done more to inspire confidence than any rehearsed soundbite or forced optimism.
It’s a long road to SEC contention. Mistakes will be made. More players will come and go. But with a coach who can both laugh at himself and lead with conviction, the foundation feels a little sturdier. The rivalry with Texas may soon reignite like a wildfire, but if Elko can continue to meet moments like these with grace, clarity, and a dash of humor, the Aggies may just find themselves rising above the fray—one awkward song lyric at a time.
