Whether you’re a good coach on a bad team, a good coach on a good, team, or a bad coach on a good team, the college coaching carousel does not discriminate. If you’re a prominent name, then rumors are bound to swirl.
Earlier this month, one of the top jobs of the cycle came open when the Penn State Nittany Lions parted ways with James Franklin, leaving one of the biggest vacancies we’ve seen in a couple of years at the college level. Now, regardless of where you coach or how your team is doing, there are some big names being thrown out there as potential candidates to take over in Happy Valley.
One of those names happens to be Mike Elko, who has coached the Texas A&M Aggies to a perfect 7-0 record and No. 3 ranked in the US LBM Coaches poll so far this year. With so much success not only at College Station, but also with the Duke Blue Devils before that, Elko has been thrown about as one of the top candidates for the Nittany Lions job.
He was asked about that on Monday during his weekly press conference, and he didn’t take too kindly to the rumors, instead taking a shot at media members for how they cover these coaching carousels.
“I think it’s absolutely hilarious how you guys cover coaches,” Elko said. “I think, three weeks ago, I was gettin fired. Now, I’m getting hired… It’s just absolutely hilarious. It’s just a waste of brain space to spend any time talking or thinking about any of that stupidity.”
Regardless of whether or not Elko values the discussion, it’s going to continue as fans and organizations think about and deal with the multi-million dollar coaching industry that drives economies across the nation. However, Elko doesn’t have to concern himself with that at this point in the season. His team is rolling, and they’ve got another chance to prove themselves this weekend with a night-game against the LSU Tigers in a sold-out Death Valley.
If he keeps winning, though, Elko’s name is going to continue to pop up in these job discussions. Of course, they’re going to pop up if he starts losing a lot, too, but that would be a less enjoyable topic.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M coach Mike Elko slams media for coverage of coaches amidst Penn State rumors
Reporting by Zachary Neel, Aggies Wire / Aggies Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
