Texas A&M — not Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee or anybody else — is the highest-ranked workforce within the ultra-competitive Southeastern Convention.
The No. 3 Aggies are tied with the No. 4 Crimson Tide atop the convention standings as Texas A&M prepares for a matchup with No. 20 LSU on Saturday evening in Baton Rouge, La.
“This place really does have the potential that I assumed it did after I took the job,” second-year Aggies coach Mike Elko mentioned. “We got here right here with a imaginative and prescient for what this program must be.”
The Aggies (7-0, 4-0 SEC) have been in a position to win shut video games whether or not they have been high-scoring or low-scoring.
Texas A&M gave up 40 factors to Notre Dame on the street and received by some extent. The Aggies scored simply 16 factors at dwelling in opposition to Auburn and received by six factors. Final week, the surrendered 42 factors at Arkansas and received by three factors as quarterback Marcel Reed accounted for 4 touchdowns.
“If you discuss what a championship program seems to be like, it seems to be like a bunch of men being purchased in for when it is time,” Elko mentioned. “There may be going to return a time when the sport is on the road and the ball goes to return to you. Your problem is that it’s a must to be able to make that play.
“We won’t simply maintain saying we need to be one thing. Sooner or later, we’ll need to exit and do it. … It is good to see this system proceed to maneuver in the proper course.”
LSU (5-2, 2-2) is transferring within the improper course. The Tigers have been ranked as excessive as No. 3 early within the season, however they misplaced two of their previous three video games, most just lately falling 31-24 at then-No. 17 Vanderbilt final weekend.
The Tigers would possibly find yourself lacking the School Soccer Playoff for the fourth time in as many seasons below $100 million coach Brian Kelly.
“I perceive everyone’s angst,” Kelly mentioned. “I imply, my meal would not style good. I am not in a terrific temper. I am not completely happy. … We have put in a lot preparation time and to to not come by means of in these conditions, the blokes are offended they usually’re pissed off.
“Some (followers) are saying that I am not getting it finished now. I get that, proper? We’re working laborious each single day to get our soccer workforce higher.”
Kelly mentioned he is happy with his gamers’ “resolve,” however the working recreation has been beneath par and quarterback Garrett Nussmeier and the protection have been inconsistent.
“We have not performed that complementary soccer the place each side are hitting on all cylinders,” Kelly mentioned. “We simply have not hit that time but. So we’ll proceed to arrange our soccer workforce, work on the issues that may assist us get to that degree.
“It is a aggressive situation each week. The SEC is a troublesome league. It is aggressive each week. There aren’t any layups.”
–Discipline Degree Media
