Harasymiak: Bryant No Easy Task For UMass
Bryant won't be a pushover, according to Harasymiak
UMass suffered a difficult loss to the Temple Owls last Saturday, but has a chance to bounce back Saturday against the Bryant Bulldogs.
The Minutemen are the FBS team facing an FCS opponent in Bryant, but head coach Joe Harasymiak wants no one to be taking their Week Two opponents lightly.
“I’ve been through their last game on all sides of the ball and I’m really impressed by how hard they play,” Harasymiak said during a press conference on Monday.
“This is going to be a good game and they play really hard. I’m really impressed with that on all phases. It was a very physical game against their last opponent.”
Bryant head coach Chris Merritt coached at Christopher Columbus High School in Florida for 18 years. He was extremely successful, going 165-49 in his tenure, earning him the Bryant job just six years back.
“Coach Merritt, I’ve met a bunch of times since I’ve been here whether that’s at clinics or camps, and (his players) take on the identity of their head coach,” Harasymiak said. “He’s been there, he’s established a culture, but I’m really impressed with how hard they play. This isn’t going to be easy.”
Harasymiak has a past at the FCS level, giving him knowledge on what his team's mindset needs to be on Saturday.
“I was the Division III player that coached in (FCS) at Maine in the same league that he’s been in for eight years,” Harasymiak said. “I was fortunate enough to beat Western Kentucky in 2018. I was at Minnesota when we lost to Bowling Green, so I’ve been around it and there’s no way that we will have any mindset of this being an easy task.”
Harasymiak continued to emphasize being great in all aspects of life throughout the week, leading up to game day.
“You have to prepare the right way and take ownership for your week,” Harasymiak said. “We have more distractions now. We got class and we got the social media world going on, so we better step up because it ain’t going to be an easy game with how hard they play.”
With class starting during the week leading up to the game, it could be a challenge for the players to adjust to a new routine and schedule. Harasymiak highlighted the importance of doing well in class, as well as the increase in GPA since UMass brought him in as head coach.
“This is our first true game week, so time management from the coaches (is important),” Harasymiak said. “The guys have class schedules they are managing, as well as watching the film, getting prepared. But listen, I’ve been on that side. I’ve been that ‘team playing up’ and they’re going to give us everything they’ve got.”
After a big loss to start out the year, fans and reporters always wonder whether each contest becomes even more important for the goals the team has set out. Harasymiak made it clear that every game is equally as important.
“I told the guys last night that you went from the American Conference, to the CAA, you’re going to the Big 10, then to the SEC and then you’re going to go into the MAC,” he said. “We are in no position to treat any game, not like it is The Game.”
Bryant lost Week One to New Mexico State 19-3. The Bulldogs struggled to move the ball on many occasions, but threatened their opponent until late in the game.
“This game is extremely important, they’re a very good team,” Harasymiak said. “They just went on the road, it was 9-3 in the fourth quarter and they had a chance to win. They had two late drives there that were turnover on downs, and like I said, they played really hard. That’s how I would want my team to look, and I know that that’s a credit to Coach Merritt and the staff.”
Harasymiak continued to highlight his respect for Merritt and his group's culture.
“I don’t know what he tells his team, but I know that we are in no position to take anybody lightly,” he said. “That’s just the reality of what we’re trying to do here.”
UMass hosts the Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 6. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. and the game can be streamed on ESPN+.
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