Texas A&M Aggies Elijah Robinson To Coach Against Oklahoma State In Texas Bowl
While he's set to depart for the ACC come 2024, Texas A&M interim coach Elijah Robinson still has a job to finish with the Aggies in 2023.
Robinson confirmed he will coach the Aggies in the TaxAct Texas Bowl against No. 20 Oklahoma State at NRG Stadium in Houston on Dec. 27. After that, he'll leave to join Fran Brown's staff as Syracuse's defensive coordinator.
“When [Texas A&M athletic director] Ross [Bjork] asked me to step into this role to be the interim head coach, I told (media) I was going to do everything possible as long as I could to support this team, support this program and do right by this team,” Robison said during the Texas Bowl press conference via Zoom on Tuesday. “I’m honored to still be able to finish this race out and represent this university and represent this team in a bowl game. I’m looking forward to it.”
A longtime staff member under Jimbo Fisher, Robinson took over the team following Fisher's firing last month. He led A&M (7-5, 4-4 SEC) to a 38-10 victory over Abilene Christian on Senior Day and kept things close in a 42-30 loss to No. 13 LSU in the regular-season finale.
When hired, new A&M coach Mike Elko said he'd make it a priority to keep Robinson on staff. He would've stayed if not for Brown's offer to take over the Orange's defense as the full-time play-caller.
Brown, who previously served as Georgia's defensive back coach, was a former teammate of Robinson from Camden (N.J.) High School. Robinson also said he wouldn't have taken the position if he hadn't been allowed to finish the season at A&M in the bowl game.
“As I weighed all those options, I made sure that I talked to each program that offered me a DC job that I wanted to make sure I finished at A&M the right way," said Robinson. "Each school I talked to told me that would not be an issue.”
Robinson will be in a similar boat to that of Elko. He'll be recruiting and talking to players interested in playing for Syracuse via the transfer portal on days he's not helping A&M prepare for the road trip to Houston. Even then, paths will certainly cross on some days, leading to late-night phone calls and film study.
When asked if he would try to convince players to leave for the northeast, Robinson said he would not persuade anyone to leave A&M while still on the active roster. Should they enter the portal, that becomes a different story.
"I would not at any point say, ‘Hey, come with me,'" said Robinson. "That’s not the way I do things. I have too much respect for the university, too much respect for President (Mark) Walsh and too much respect for Mike Elko.
“I am not looking to actively recruit our guys. That’s not who I am.”
Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Jaylen Henderson (16) hands off the ball to running back Amari Daniels (4) during the first quarter at Kyle Field.
Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Robinson grew to be a favorite among players in the locker room. When named interim coach, Bjork said players were ecstatic of the hire, with some even voicing their opinion for Robinson to be named head coach.
He also respects Elko and the plan he'll try to implement in College Station as the Aggies' 30th head coach, and he said he'd encouraged players to give Elko a chance to assemble a new staff and build relationships before electing to leave the program.
“I’m really proud of guys taking the time to give coach Elko the opportunity to build his staff,” Robinson said. “And get a chance to see exactly who is going to be coaching those guys. I encourage those guys on the team to do that.”
As for offensive play-calling, Robinson said tight ends coach James Coley and offensive analyst Jim Chaney will run the offense during practice and for the bowl game. Former offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino left following Elko's hiring to become Arkansas' offensive coordinator under Sam Pittman.
As for players, Robinson said he does not know which players will opt out to either prepare for the NFL draft or enter the transfer portal. So far, only senior receiver Ainias Smith is not expected to play after suffering a broken finger against the Tigers in Baton Rouge.
"I don’t know what their plans are as far as getting surgery now or what,” Robinson said. “Or is there older guys that are going to prepare for the next level? I do not know the answer to that.”
