Mike Elko explains decision to stick with Marcel Reed vs. Alabama
By Mark Kern
Published:
Mike Elko and Texas A&M suffered another tough defeat on Saturday, as the Aggies lost to Alabama 31-20.
The Aggies took a 20-17 lead to the fourth quarter, but the Crimson Tide were able to score two touchdowns in the final quarter to get the win.
Quarterback Marcell Reed continued his tough year on Saturday, finishing 14-of-21 for 163 yards and one touchdown. He also threw two more interceptions, and Texas A&M fans were calling for coach Mike Elko to pull him out of the game after his second INT.
Elko decided against that, and he talked to reporters after the game about why he kept Reed in the game.
“Yeah, absolutely. It was for sure a thought,” Elko said. “Obviously, it couldn’t continue to go that way. So we were ready to do that. And then Marcel obviously went back out and played probably his best football for the rest of the first half.”
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Reed at one point last season was a legitimate candidate to win the Heisman Trophy, and was a big reason why the Aggies made it to the College Football Playoff last year.
Elko’s job is to put the Aggies in the best position to win the game, and he still believes that means Reed at quarterback.
“I still believe he’s our best option, so that’s kind of why we stayed with him,” Elko said.
The Aggies will be off in Week 9, before traveling to Columbia to take on South Carolina. There figures to be more chatter about whether or not Reed should keep the job, but for now, Reed is the guy in College Station.
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