Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko did not hold back in his postgame remarks after the Aggies’ 27-6 defeat to Missouri on Saturday, directing sharp criticism at the popular fan website TexAgs.com. The loss dropped Texas A&M to a 3-3 record on the season, with three losses in their last four games.
"There’s a difference to me between the fan base and social media, and so there’s one group that I really don’t care much about. Billy [Liucci’s] cesspool can go be Billy’s cesspool," Elko stated, referring to the fan site and its co-owner. "Our fan base: Stay with us. Be behind us. We’re going to build something. That’s what 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."
The Aggies, who began the season ranked eighth in the AP Top 25, have struggled to a 1-3 conference record. Elko urged the team's supporters to remain steadfast as the program works to overcome its current difficulties.
Billy Liucci, co-owner of TexAgs, acknowledged Elko's comments but suggested the timing and audience were not ideal. "It’s never a time to call out the fans, especially when it’s a large, loyal portion of your fanbase," Liucci said. He added that criticism is an expected part of being in high-profile positions within college athletics.
Founded in 1997, TexAgs has grown into one of the largest independent fan sites in college sports, boasting thousands of paying subscribers. The site has previously been associated with a player-benefits scandal that impacted the eligibility of Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar in 2006.
Texas A&M looks to rebound next week against The Citadel.