No Excuse For Bryant Loss
Now What?
AMHERST, Mass. - There’s no excuse for UMass losing to Bryant.
Being in the second game under a new coaching staff isn’t an excuse.
Being without major chunks of your secondary isn’t an excuse.
And neither is losing your starting quarterback in the first quarter.
We understood growing pains were to be expected and despite the disappointment of the opening loss to Temple, arguments could be - and were - made that those growing pains were the culprit, at least for the margin of defeat.
But those growing pains weren’t supposed to include losing to an FCS team.
Even those who would say they see at least some signs of progress would have to acknowledge those saying the opposite have a stronger argument in the aftermath of this type of embarrassment.
The fact that the game was even competitive after UMass took a 20-3 lead with less than four minutes to go in the half was embarrassing enough. The Minutemen finding a way to turn a potentially unforgettable win - on the back of Grant Jordan’s miraculous toss and Derek Morris’ record-setting field goal - into an unforgettable loss is all the more painful.
Especially for a passionate fan base that has already gone through more than its share of embarrassment and pain.
Losing to an FCS squad doesn’t bode well for a team with opponents from the Big Ten and SEC coming up next on the schedule. Nobody ever expected a win against either Iowa or Missouri, but now we need to recalibrate exactly what a “good showing” even looks like.
Bryant could get just about anything it wanted through the air against the Minutemen and UMass’ defensive backs looked like they knew it. As they committed multiple pass interference and defensive holding penalties, it almost seemed like doing so and hoping they wouldn’t be called was a better strategy than the alternative of letting Bulldog pass-catchers simply run free.
While it’s easy to envision UMass’ offense continuing to produce big plays - at least outside of the red zone - it’s getting very difficult to see how the Minutemen pass defense is expected to improve. They better hope guys like Malcolm Greene, Zeraun Daniel and Bo Barnes get back quick and even that may not be enough.
You think an Iowa team that for years has been mocked for an impotent offense is going to take its foot off the gas against this Minutemen defense?
So, at least for the foreseeable future, first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak can only offer words - something fans don’t want - and only ask for patience - something fans believe they’ve offered enough of.
The question for players, coaches and fans alike is the same, “Now What?”
For those within the program, the answer may seem obvious.
Obviously, you’d expect everybody to show up as motivated as ever for work next week. That’s certainly what first-year head coach Joe Harasymiak expects.
“We only have one option,” Harasymiak said after the game. “There are no other options but to be a man, step up and come back. There are literally no other options.”
And in this day and age of NIL, it’s quite literally their job to do so.
But that’s not quite as simple as it may seem.
These are the moments when fingers are pointed, blame is assigned and people within the organization are tempted to check out.
The very first letter of Harasymiak’s B.O.S. motto stands for Belief.
If belief cratered among those outside the program with the season-opening loss, it’ll certainly be tested even by those within the program after this one. Harasymiak will tell you he was brought here to win games, but before he wins his first, he’ll need to make sure he continues to win the locker room.
For those on the outside, the answer is probably clear even if that answer is very different for different people.
Many will feel they have no choice but to continue to support the team. Just as many may feel they have no choice but to do the exact opposite.
And both are probably right.
While fans who choose to do the former should be applauded, it’s impossible to fault those who choose to do the latter.
That’s the consequence of an inexcusable loss.
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