Von Miller and Garrick Williams fell out of a canoe and into the pond Sunday night at the home of Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, who had the players over before fall camp begins Monday.
The other players, coaches and media had a field day at the expense of the soaked Miller and Williams. It was really funny, considering it's taken Sherman the better part of 20 months to get everyone on board with his program.
Sherman started preaching about having everyone on the boat as soon as he took the job. Yet last year during a 4-8 season it looked like some of the players wouldn't even go near the water, let alone get in the boat.
"Last year we had a couple of guys who had their own agenda," senior offensive lineman Lee Grimes said. "But, we've taken care of those guys and we've got the guys [Sherman] wants in there right now."
Sherman wasted no time showing the players who was the boss. Missing class or being late for practice just wasn't tolerated.
During one drill, a pair of fights drew his ire. He called out the soft players, making everyone run countless sprints. He encouraged those who just wanted to be average to transfer.
A few of them did.
"I think it was really just the fact that Coach Sherman was so adamant about getting that out of there," sophomore defensive back Trent Hunter said.
Hunter was one of 10 true freshman who played last year. They were talented, but it was obvious they did things the right way, Sherman's Way, which apparently wasn't the case for many of the upperclassmen.
"I think [a divided team] is one of the worst distractions you can have in a locker room," Hunter said. "Guys not getting along and not acting like a team. That's just one of the things you can't have as a football team."
Hunter grew into one of the team's leaders, but it's hard for freshmen to tell upperclassmen they aren't moving the program forward.
"It was rough, it was a rough ride," Hunter said. "You just tried to do the best to set this year's foundation."
That's something Hunter never had to deal with at Katy High School. The Tigers are one of the state's best programs because the team is bigger than any individual, no matter how talented a given player might be.
"I didn't really have to deal with [a divided locker room] until I got up here," Hunter said. "I'm glad we're done with that."
It was obvious Sunday night as some players shoot hoops, some tried their hand at rowing and others just sat with the coaches and chewed the fat.
"If you can't be friends and trust each other in the locker room, you are not going to be friends and trust each other on the field," Grimes said.
There sure seemed to be a lot of trust in the air Sunday night.
"We always talk about being a family," Sherman said. "During recruiting, one night we'll come out to my house with the recruits. We show them that part of what we're all about during recruiting. So if we didn't follow through it with our regular guys it didn't make a lot of sense.
"It's about family and being part of a family. Just coming down here and sharing a little bread and brotherhood with each other and trying to take one more step to get closer as a football team."
Senior defensive back Jordan Pugh said those growing pains hurt, but they were necessary.
"There were a lot of distractions that went on last year," Pugh said. "But the time and the way people grew, you got to know each other better [which] changed the whole perception of the team. And now we'll showcase that when the season comes."
First, though, Miller and Williams got back in the boat and got it to shore, where they sure took a ribbing.
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NOTES -- Defensive back Coryell Judie, a junior college transfer from Fort Scott Community College (Kan.), and freshman offensive lineman Chris Henderson of Dallas Carter did not report Sunday. They haven't been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse. Sherman said he expects Judie to compete for a starting spot and possibly return punts. ... Sherman said the players have done everything he's asked this summer and will tell them how proud he is of that when they have their first official meeting Monday. "I've been hard on them this offseason, and I've challenged them this offseason, but I'm proud of where they are," he said. ... Several players had offseason surgeries, but Sherman expects everyone to be ready for Monday's 6:30 p.m. practice. ... Sherman said the first practice is the easiest one of the year. He's more concerned about next Monday. ... Senior walk-on Jeff Wood, who has one letter, will battle sophomore transfer Ken Wood (University of Montana) at punter. "I'm anxious to see where we're at," said Sherman, who couldn't work with them this summer as they try to replace Justin Brantley. ... Sherman said the team is further along at punt returner with incoming freshman defensive back Dustin Harris in the mix, while incoming freshman Ryan Swope will be tried at kickoff returns, joining sophomore Cyrus Gray. ... Senior wide receiver Howard Morrow (6-foot, 198 pounds) has lost about 15 pounds. "I'm looking forward to him playing faster than he played last year and to be more dependable and accountable," Sherman said. "I think he's been very accountable this offseason and he's been one of our leaders."... Sherman said three of the incoming offensive linemen, three of the four receivers, a couple defensive backs, both running backs and tight end Hutson Prioleau have to help immediately. ... A&M has added a walk-on quarterback in Winston Gamso, who transferred from Southern Methodist. "I think he's done a nice job," Sherman said. "The players identify with him well. He's a good athlete and I'm anxious to see him throw the football."