The unity and purpose was to force the vote past the first ballot.
Gohmert nor any of the others that tossed their hat in seriously thought they would get a majority.
If it were to get past a first ballot without any winner (which it almost did), then the Boehner alliance starts to unravel.
I think when you are undertaking the daunting task of unseating a sitting Speaker of the House (which has rarely occurred in our history) that a significant amount of preparation and resources and planning and strategizing are required, not to mention a sense of unity and common purpose, and coalescing behind a single candidate capable of executing the task. Just sayin’. Politics aint bean bag. Boehner has been around a long time and it will take far more than an amateur effort to unseat him IMHO. Sorry for the Poli Sci 101.