Texas A&M's Mike Elko dismisses "Billy's cesspool" of TexAgs fans after 27-6 loss to Missouri
After Texas A&M lost 27-6 at Missouri to fall to 3-3, coach Mike Elko separated "the fan base" from "social media" and called the TexAgs community "Billy's cesspool". TexAgs editor Billy Liucci called the remark a "wildly unnecessary misstep".
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko criticised part of the team's fan base after the Aggies lost 27-6 at Missouri on Saturday 10 October, dropping them to 3-3. NewsweekN “their head coach expressed his dissatisfaction with some of the fan base following his team's 27-6 loss to Missouri on the road on Saturday.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “fell to 3-3 on the season with a 27-6 loss at Missouri on Saturday” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2Asked in the post-game press conference what he would say to fans losing faith in the program, Elko said: "There's a difference to me between the fan base and social media. So there's one group that I really don't care much about. Billy's cesspool can go be Billy's cesspool." He then asked the wider fan base to "stay with us, be behind us" and said the team would "build something that we told you we were going to build". NewsweekN “Billy's cesspool (at TexAgs) can go be Billy's cesspool.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “Our fan base, stay with us, be behind us.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek reports that the question came from Carter Karels of On3. "Billy" is Billy Liucci, executive editor and co-owner of TexAgs.com, a Texas A&M fan site and message board. NewsweekN “Carter Karels of On3 asked Elko what he'd say to Texas A&M fans who are losing faith with the program.” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “Billy Liucci , the Executive Editor & co-owner of TexAgs.com” Read at Newsweek ↗
Right · 1Fox News's OutKick section says TexAgs has over 350,000 followers across X and Facebook alone, plus paid subscribers, and says Liucci has covered the Aggies since before the turn of the 21st century. Fox NewsR “with over 350,000 followers across X and Facebook alone, on top of thousands more paid subscribers to the website.” Read at Fox News ↗ Centre · 1Liucci replied on X that he would "show restraint here (for now)" but that the coach "losing 27-6 then immediately calling out an incredibly large portion of the loyal but also understandably frustrated fan base was a wildly unnecessary misstep". NewsweekN “was a wildly unnecessary misstep” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1On the field, Missouri, ranked No. 14, outgained Texas A&M 399-216 in total yards. Newsweek says fans had voiced displeasure with the offense and quarterback Marcel Reed. NewsweekN “The Aggies were outgained 399-216 in total yards by the Tigers.” Read at Newsweek ↗
Centre · 1Texas A&M began the season ranked No. 8 after an 11-1 2025 season and a College Football Playoff appearance. It has lost three of its first four SEC games (Kentucky, LSU and Missouri). NewsweekN “losing three of their first four conference contests (Kentucky, LSU, and Mizzou).” Read at Newsweek ↗ NewsweekN “after an 11-1 season in 2025 and a CFP appearance” Read at Newsweek ↗ Centre · 1Newsweek notes that Elko signed an extension last November that runs through 2031 and says he is safe this season. His record at Texas A&M is 22-10 overall and 13-7 in SEC play. NewsweekN “Elko is 22-10 overall and 13-7 in SEC play during his time with the Aggies.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Mixed · 2Texas A&M hosts The Citadel in Week 7. Fox News adds that the remaining schedule includes trips to Alabama and Oklahoma and games against Tennessee and Texas. NewsweekN “Texas A&M will next play The Citadel at home in Week 7.” Read at Newsweek ↗ Fox NewsR “The Aggies still have trips to Alabama and Oklahoma on their schedule” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Newsweek treats it as a coach-versus-fans-and-media flare-up. It reports the quote, then follows up with Liucci's response, and places the remark within the team's disappointing season.
- Emphasis
- Elko's distinction between fans and social media, Liucci's reply, season context, and Elko's contract security.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little on TexAgs's size or influence.
- Charged language
- “put on blast”“Fires Back”“wildly unnecessary misstep”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Fox News (OutKick) presents the remark as a self-inflicted blunder in a season that is going wrong, and as alienating Aggies' most passionate fans.
- Emphasis
- TexAgs's reach and influence, the 'head-scratching' choice, the remaining tough schedule, and the season's spiral.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention Liucci's reply or Elko's contract extension.
- Charged language
- “spiral”“head-scratching decision”“season-to-forget”“far, far worse”
What every side reports
- Texas A&M lost 27-6 at Missouri on Saturday 10 October and is 3-3.
- After the game Elko said "Billy's cesspool can go be Billy's cesspool" while asking the wider fan base to stay behind the team.
- "Billy" refers to TexAgs's Billy Liucci.
- Texas A&M plays The Citadel next.
Where accounts differ
-
How serious Elko's remark was
- Centre
- Newsweek reports it as a pointed exchange with a reporter and says Elko "doesn't seem to agree" that fan anger is justified. It also says he is safe this season.
- Right
- Fox News calls it a "head-scratching decision" that made things "far, far worse" and alienated hundreds of thousands of fans.
Mike Elko person
Elko separates fans who stay behind the team from a social-media group he says he doesn't care much about. He acknowledges the team is in a "really bad spot" and says it will work its way out.
“So we're in a really bad spot right now, but we'll work our way out of it.” — Newsweek
Billy Liucci person
Liucci says Elko's remark was a misstep that called out a large, loyal but frustrated part of the fan base, though he says he is showing restraint for now.
“was a wildly unnecessary misstep” — Newsweek
Texas A&M Aggies football organisation
The Aggies are 3-3 after beginning the season ranked No. 8. They next face The Citadel at home.
“Texas A&M will next play The Citadel at home in Week 7.” — Newsweek
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
-
Mike Elko Calls Some Texas A&M Fans a 'Cesspool' After Loss to Mizzou
Neutral Straightforward report of the quote with context on the loss, the season and Elko's contract.
-
Texas A&M Reporter Fires Back After Being Put on Blast by Aggies HC Mike Elko
Mixed Follow-up centred on Liucci's reply, sympathetic to fan frustration and doubtful of Elko's stance.
Right1 article
-
Critical Casts the remark as a blunder that alienates the most influential fans while the season spirals.
- 10 Oct 22:34 First NewsweekN Mike Elko Calls Some Texas A&M Fans a 'Cesspool' After Loss to Mizzou
- 11 Oct 04:49 +6h 15m NewsweekN Texas A&M Reporter Fires Back After Being Put on Blast by Aggies HC Mike Elko
- 11 Oct 14:45 +16h 10m Fox NewsR Mike Elko calls out Texas A&M fans on community message board as Aggies continue to spiral after another loss
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.