COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Texas A&M moved on from coach Jimbo Fisher last year with $75 million remaining on his contract after another disappointing season. Early results under coach Mike Elko haven’t seemed like much of an upgrade. No.
25 Texas A&M, a 22 1⁄2-point favorite, squeaked by Bowling Green 26-20 Saturday night in a sloppy game filled with mistakes. The win came after the Aggies opened the season with a home loss to Notre Dame followed by wins over FCS school McNeese State and the struggling Florida Gators. Asked what frustrated him most about his team’s performance against Bowling Green, Elko took a deep breath before answering.
“It was a lot,” he said. The Aggies gave up a 65-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harold Fannin Jr. on the first play of the second half and the Falcons cut the lead to three when they scored on a 40-yard reverse later in the third.
Bowling Green blocked a punt on the ensuing drive, but the Aggies held onto the lead when Jackson Kleather missed a 28-yard field goal. They looked to have finally put the game away with about two minutes left when Marcus Ratcliffe grabbed an interception in the end zone. But Le’Veon Moss fumbled on the next play to give the Falcons another chance.
“Just so many things to fix and clean up, and we’ve got to get back to work Monday and get a lot better,” Elko said. He was particularly unhappy with the defense on Fannin, who was left uncovered on his touchdown. “We did a horrible job mana.