Mike Elko couldn’t help but chuckle a bit.
Texas A&M’s football coach wasn’t having a laugh at Utah State football’s expense — the No. 19 ranked Aggies’ opponent this Saturday — but the Aggies vs. Aggies matchup definitely amused him.
“Excited to welcome Utah State in here,“ Elko said Monday. ”Aggies vs. Aggies. Those matchups are always interesting. It’s funny how many times I’ve been in non-conference Aggies vs. Aggies matchups. It seems like we keep setting them up."
The Texas A&M Aggies are the most well known nationally, but Utah State is the second-most prominent program nationally that still boasts the nickname.
Saturday’s game, kickoff in College Station is slated for 10:45 a.m. MT, will be only the second ever meeting between Texas A&M and Utah State.
Texas A&M won that game in 2009 and most believe that that will be the result of Saturday’s game too (ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Texas-based Aggies a 96.2% chance to win).
Elko, though, was nothing if not complimentary about Utah State, in detail too.
Here’s what Texas A&M’s head coach had to say about Utah State football and head coach Bronco Mendenhall:
What Mike Elko said about Bronco Mendenhall
Elko has previous experience coaching against Mendenhall, going back to both coaches time in the ACC, when Mendenhall was the head coach at Virginia and Elko was the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest.
Elko noted that while he doesn’t know Mendenhall personally, but he has followed Mendenhall’s career.
“Known Bronco for a long time,” he said. “Just following his career, not as much personally. Obviously a tremendously successful head coach, did a great job at BYU. Coached against him when he was at UVA when I was the defensive coordinator at Wake Forest. Have always followed his program(s) from afar. This will be the first time going against him (as a head coach).”
Elko later added: “I think he (Mendenhall) is a tough hard-minded head coach and his team’s show that. There is a blue collar toughness to how they play. They play extremely hard, physical and they are very disciplined.”
What Mike Elko said about preparing for a team as unknown as Utah State
Part of Mendenhall taking over the USU program involved turning over the roster in a major way, adding 70 new players, many of whom are transfers.
Elko noted that that is less and less unusual in modern college football and makes early season games all the more difficult to prepare for, Saturday’s contest included.
“Trying to put it all together, it is a little challenging,“ Elko said. ”They’ve played one game, against a UTEP team. They are 1-0, but it is hard to get a full feel for what we are getting into."
Elko then added: “I think these opening games are more and more challenging every year, because between roster and scheme, you don’t have a great pulse or feel for what you are getting into. We’ve just kind of learned to be able to adjust and adapt. That it what it comes down to in these kind of games.”
What Mike Elko said about Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes?
Elko did single out a few Aggie players, though, with Barnes — USU’s starting quarterback — being the first named.
Elko was fairly effusive in his praise of Barnes, the sixth-year backup extraordinaire turned full-time starter this season.
“Offensively, they are kind of more traditional pro style system,“ Elko said. ”So we will have a little but better feel for that. They are led by quarterback Bryson Barnes, who we think is a really really talented player. Another really good Group of 4 quarterback. Had a big week last week throwing and running the football. Not that he’s a dual threat (quarterback), but he is an athletic kid who is a very capable thrower.”
What Mike Elko said about Utah State running backs Miles Davis and Javen Jacobs and tight end Broc Lane
Elko also name dropped Davis and Jacobs, two transfers to Utah State during the offseason who’ve become running backs No. 1 and No. 2 for the Aggies.
“Two transfers at running back that really stand out, Javen Jacobs from New Mexico and Miles Davis from BYU. I think they are their two best skill players,” Elko said.
Elko also noted Broc Lane, USU’s veteran tight end who Mendenhall said had been tampered with throughout Aggie career.
“Really talented tight end in Broc Lane, who has been really productive for them the last few years,” Elko said.
About the Aggies’ offense on the whole, Elko said: “They will present challenges and they’ll come into this environment and play their best football and be excited to be here.”
What else did Mike Elko say about Utah State?
The only other thing that Elko felt compelled to talk about regarding USU was the Aggies’ defense and how — more than the offense — game planning has proven difficult.
“Defensively, they are a mix between three-down and four-down (linemen),” Elko said. “Their defensive coordinator Nick Howell has some SEC experience, he was at Vanderbilt with Clark Lea who I know very well. And he was at (The University of Virginia) before that.
“But trying to figure out what they are going to be this year at Utah State, when they have only played one game and it was against a wide open 10 personnel spread team is a little bit of a challenge. Just trying to piece together what that will look like.”