Texas A&M's Mike Elko Apologizes for Ripping Media Outlet with Viral 'Cesspool' Comment After Loss

Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko apologized Monday after referring to local media outlet TexAgs, which is co-owned by Billy Liucci, as a "cesspool" following Saturday's 27-6 loss to Missouri.

"I think everybody knows I have a tremendous relationship with Billy," Elko told reporters . "I appreciate Billy. I appreciate him being here today. There's nothing about him and I that have ever been off since 2018. I think everybody knows I appreciate our fanbase and everything that they're about and everything that they mean to Texas A&M. Outside of that, I'll leave it alone.

"I regret the way it was taken. I regret the way it came out. I regret the way it ran. That certainly was never my intention. And certainly, throughout the course of that interview, at no point ever did I lend any blame to anything other than myself. I am the reason why this team is struggling. I have owned that since this has started. I continue to own that. It's my job to figure out how to get it better."

The initial comments included Elko saying, "There's one group that I really don't care much about. Billy's cesspool can go be Billy's cesspool. Our fanbase: Stay with us, be behind us, we're going to build something that we told you we were going to build. We're in a really bad spot right now, but we'll work our way out of it."

That drew a critical response from Liucci:

ESPN's Max Olson noted TexAgs was founded in 1997 and stands as the "largest entity" that covers the Aggies on a daily basis. The independent fan site features a message board but also partners with the school for NIL opportunities.

To say there is frustration surrounding the Texas A&M football program at this point would be an understatement.

The Aggies reached the College Football Playoff last season, which was Elko's second as the head coach, and entered the 2026 campaign at No. 8 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25.

Fans surely expected another run at the CFP, but the team has looked nothing like a realistic contender through six games.

Saturday's loss dropped Texas A&M to 3-3 overall and an ugly 1-3 in SEC play. It also lost to Kentucky and LSU with the latter defeat coming by 29 points. The Aggies failed to score a touchdown in the loss to LSU and the loss to Missouri.

With upcoming games against Alabama, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Texas, things could get even uglier for Elko's club this season, which will only lead to more criticism.