It looked like things were going to take a nasty turn for the Toronto Argonauts on Monday.
Early in practice, moments after one coach verbally tore into his group, first year head coach Mike Miller called the team to the midfield logo at Guelph’s Alumni Stadium.
This is not unusual for a coach to do if he’s not thrilled with what he’s seeing on the field.
After just hearing another coach raise his voice, everyone was ready for Miller to tear into them, especially when he called all the coaches and staff to join the players. He sounded like he was a volcano ready to erupt and spray lava all over the campus.
He turned his head from side to side, glaring at everyone in the assembled group before beginning his address.
“Now, I said in the beginning that that I’m always going to be myself, right?”
“Yes sir,” came a reply of very soft voices, obviously preparing for the onslaught they were expecting from their coach.
“I said we’re going to have accountability, we’re going to have discipline, we’re going to have respect, trust and passion, did I not?”
“Yes sir,” came the reply, a little louder this time.
“I said we’re going to play smart; we’re going to play fast, we’re going to play physical. Did I not?”
“Yes sir,” said the group.
“Coaches; to this point, would you say the players have accepted that challenge?”
“Yes sir,” replied the staff.
“Players, do you feel to this point that you’ve stepped up and we’re starting to meet that challenge?”
“Yes sir.”
“Well, I agree,” said Miller, who threw the first curveball of the speech. “But something else needs to be corrected. We’re coming together on the field and that’s important, because we’ve always got to be about us, correct?”
“Yes sir.”
“But it’s also about coming together off the field, and that’s important too. And I believe we’re earned that opportunity to do that as we continue to come together as a team. So right now, in thirty minutes, we’re all going to get on the bus and we’re all going to the movies.”
Cheers from those at midfield were as loud as they would be for a game-winning touchdown. Miller was mobbed by players, with Lirim Hajrullahu being the first to give his coach a bear hug.
Miller had just put on a performance worth of an Academy Award. Nobody saw it coming, and only a couple of staff members knew it was in the works.
The entire team: players, the front office, coaches, and full staff, boarded three busses and headed to Galaxy Cinemas Guelph for a private screening of “Project Hail Mary,” with popcorn, nachos, candy and soft drinks for everyone, all a part of the mid-day treat.
It was not a spur of the moment decision by the coach; it had been in the works for months. He took the idea from longtime Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, for whom he worked as an offensive assistant from 1999-2003.
Cowher told his players of their impending trip to the cinema during a meeting, while Miller stopped Monday’s practice to deliver the good news.
Like his former boss, Miller’s speech leading up to the announcement had everyone believing that he was steamed, not about to take everyone to a movie.
“The guys were telling me, ‘Coach, you got us.’ That was fun,” Miller told Argonauts.ca. He also was quick to acknowledge the co-conspirators who executed his plan. “A big thanks to Melissa Frith and Liya Egubagzi (from football operations) for organizing it and to MLSE for allowing us to be able to do it. They’ve been very supportive of us and our team appreciates it, but they earned it. We were excited to do it.”
Dave Ungerer III vouched for the team’s appreciation.
“I was extremely surprised, but it was the best surprise,” the veteran receiver told Argonauts.ca. “We’ve been working really hard as a team over the first two weeks of campand Coach Miller showed us some love today. I think it was great for the team.”
It was a strong statement to make for any coach, but perhaps even more so for a rookie. Miller has set a high bar for his team in terms of expectations, and the group has answered the challenge. Monday showed that hard work will be recognized and rewarded.
“Not only does it boost the morale of the team,” Ungerer explained. “But it also increases our trust in him. Not only is he trying to get the most out of us on the field, but he’s taking into consideration how we feel physically and emotionally. It’s been a demanding camp, so for him to give us a day like this, we’re going to come out tomorrow with a new energy.”
The final word goes to the coach.
“I thought this was important because we do need to continue to build our culture, and camaraderie off the field is important too.”