Tyler Stewart and Nick Joiner of the University of Louisiana-Monroe found themselves in 17th place after weighing in 4 pounds, 4 ounces on Day 1.
Their day on Lake DuBay had come to a halt earlier than expected when they encountered boat problems.
Their mood was bleak as they looked forward to a staggering task — having the same mechanical trouble while catching an even better bag on Day 2 in order to have a shot at the Top 5 and Championship Saturday.
That's when teammates Brian Eaton and Slade Daniel came to the rescue for their fellow Warhawks.
DuBay was a tough nut to crack on Day 1 and Eaton and Daniel didn’t boat a keeper to weigh. Taking one for the team, they decided to give Stewart and Joiner their boat for the day in hopes they would proceed to Day 3.
You don’t hear things like that every day, especially in a national championship. But for Eaton it wasn’t even a question.
“It’s just the way our team operates,” Eaton said. “They would do it for us, I know that.”
Such a simple act of kindness could be looked over as commonplace, but in fact it is one of the most selfless gestures that any angler could do for another.
“It means the world to us because we may have the shot to move up,” Stewart said.
“We spend so much time together when we aren’t fishing and we are all friends. I love being around these guys and having so many friends on the team.”
Truth be told, Eaton and Daniel did need to borrow a boat themselves on the final day of the Wildcard in order to qualify for the national championship.
They have paid it forward on the biggest stage in college bass fishing.
The kicker? Eaton is fishing his final college event with B.A.S.S.
The three-time College Bass National Championship qualifier fished around the ramp vicinity until about noon, when the trolling motor batteries on Stewart/Joiner's boat had had enough.
“I’ve had the best four years anyone could ask for,” Eaton said.
“College fishing is the best decision I’ve made since deciding to go to ULM. The friends you meet are lifelong ones and the comradery isn’t like any other sport. I’m leaving ULM knowing it’s in good hands.”