Mike Elko explains why Texas A&M brought back 'Power' as team took the field in Week 1

New Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is a familiar face for the program, serving as the team’s defensive coordinator for four seasons prior his two-year tenure at Duke before returning to College Station ahead of the 2024 season. Using a familiar tune to usher in a new era for the Aggies as he took the field for the first time with his team on Saturday for a Week 1 matchup against Notre Dame.

The popular Kanye West song ‘Power’ was used as Texas A&M’s intro music as they ran out onto Kyle Field better part of the last decade, but was pulled from being used in 2022. Brought back by Elko in his head coaching debut for the Aggies this past weekend.

CLICK HERE to go to PrizePicks and use code ON3 to receive a guaranteed $50 once you play $5 in lineups!

“You guys have often asked me how my experience at Texas A&M has helped me, and one of the things I’ve learned over the years is if you don’t want something to get out, don’t tell anyone,” Elko said during his Monday press conference. “So that’s maybe where my experience at Texas A&M has helped me.”

The program did away with the use of ‘Power’ following anti-Semitic comments made by West. But a change in the guard for the Aggies’ program led to the song being brought back, providing a surprising, electric moment that fans and players alike enjoyed to kick off the college football season.

Watch College Football Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW

“We were sitting on that one for a long time. That was something I know that was really important to this fan base, I know that’s something that’s really important to Kyle Field. And I think when we had a change in leadership in the athletic department, we kind of felt like that was something we could bring back and that’s kind of when that got put in motion,” Elko explained.

Elko also revealed that he didn’t tell any of his players about the change in intro music, trusting his own expertise on the program’s culture in a moment that definitely paid off.

Watch College Football Games Live -Try for Free Fubo! Click HERE NOW

“I don’t think I needed to ask the players what they wanted and I didn’t tell the players,” Elko admitted. “I didn’t ask them, I didn’t tell them, I didn’t ask anybody, I didn’t tell anybody. I know what that song means to Kyle Field.”

Texas A&M’s season opener also included maroon-painted end zones and white helmets, changeups from the norm to also further establish the new turning point for the program. Which unfortunately did not earn the Aggies a Week 1 win, but could set the tone for a new era under Elko.

“I just think new era, new feel. We think you can dress up Kyle Field and make it look even better at times, and we just want to kind of do that,” Elko concluded.

The Aggies return to Kyle Field this weekend as they host McNeese State in pursuit of their first win of the 2024 college football season.