Mike Elko flew into in College Station, Texas, in the early hours of Monday morning shortly after finalizing a deal to become the new coach of the Texas A&M football program.
The former Duke coach is going viral for the low-key arrival which occurred at approximately 2:15 a.m. CT. That’s because it stands in stark contrast to the 2017 arrival of predecessor Jimbo Fisher who was fired Nov. 12.
Elko walked off the private plane onto the tarmac and made his way to a plain white pickup truck. Photographers only had a few seconds to snap images of him before he disappeared.
Full video of Mike Elko arriving in College Station. Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork was among others on the plane. pic.twitter.com/qOmt3hRWXE
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) November 27, 2023
The “getaway truck” for Mike Elko. pic.twitter.com/1dYqMy9SQg
— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) November 27, 2023
When Fisher was named the Aggies coach in 2017, he arrived in College Station to massive fanfare.
A maroon carpet was laid out for Fisher as he walked out of the plane. Members of the Texas A&M band then played the school’s fight song as he walked along the carpet.
Jimbo Fisher’s trumpeted arrival to College Station: pic.twitter.com/GUmttygt2R
— Brent Zwerneman (@BrentZwerneman) December 3, 2017
The two coaches couldn’t have had a more different entrance, and Aggies fans certainly hope for more success under Elko than Fisher, who went 45–25 in five-plus seasons.