MACtion has arrived for the UMass football team as it welcomes the Western Michigan Broncos to McGuirk Alumni Stadium this weekend for its first Mid-American Conference game of the 2025 season.
The Minutemen went winless in its non-conference slate (0-4), but head coach Joe Harasymiak is eager to turn the page and focus on the upcoming eight-game MAC schedule.
“I think it’s great that we actually have a league to look forward to now,” Harasymiak said to reporters on Monday at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center. “It’s kind of the start of a new season. We talked to the team, it’s the eight-mile to Detroit. There’s eight games, here we go, this is mile marker one. Got to take care of the first mile, got to get out of the gate fast, but I’m looking forward to, hopefully, starting fresh.”
UMass lost to No. 19 Missouri, 42-6, at Faurot Field on Saturday, however it was a more competitive game than the final score indicated, particularly due to the results of the first half. The Minutemen only trailed by two possessions (21-6) going into halftime against an undefeated, Southeastern Conference (SEC) team in its home environment.
Despite that, Harasymiak expressed a lack of interest in continuing to praise his players for playing hard. Rather, the first-year head coach isn’t tolerating anything less than maximum effort from now on.
“To me, that’s what you’re supposed to do,” Harasymiak said. “I’m done coaching it. If you’re not going to play hard, you’re not going to play. People probably didn’t even notice, four guys didn’t start on Saturday because they didn’t do the right things during the week. Nothing comes before the team. If you’re late in the door by 30 seconds or a minute, you’re not going to play and you’re not going to start. Those are the things that we get at.”
A.J. Hairston was not among the scratched UMass players as the redshirt freshman quarterback got his first start of the season under center against the Tigers. Hairston’s final stat-line didn’t jump off the page as the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder tossed for 75 yards with a touchdown and interception while finishing 11-for-31 on attempts.
While Harasymiak felt Hairston showed well, given the circumstances, he declined to name a starter for this weekend’s showdown with Western Michigan.
“The decision hasn’t been made yet, I’ll keep that in house,” Harasymiak said. “Make Western prepare for three guys and we’ll do what’s best.
“Everybody surrounding the quarterback, whoever it is, has to step up their game,” Harasymiak added. “We got to catch the ball, we got to protect, we got to run the ball more effectively. It’ll be a team effort because this is a good football team coming in here. They are not a 2-3 team, they’re much better than that.”
The Broncos began the 2025 campaign 0-3 with losses to Michigan State, North Texas and No. 9 Illinois, but have since beaten Toledo and FCS Rhode Island.
Western Michigan quarterback Broc Lowry is going to be difficult to contain as the Ohio native is equally dangerous with his arm as he is with his legs. Lowry has thrown for 588 yards, two TDs and one interception, plus, leads the Broncos in rushing yards (227) and rushing touchdowns (five).
Harasymiak also complimented Western Michigan defensive end Nadame Tucker without being specifically asked about the redshirt senior.
“That edge player that they have, Tucker, he might be one of the best we face all year,” Harasymiak said. “He’s a legit havoc-wrecker.”
In four games, Tucker has 18 total tackles, seven tackles-for-loss and three sacks.
The Minutemen have yet to find the end zone in the second half this season. After four games, UMass has put up only six points in eight quarters after halftime and while numerous factors have contributed to that, Harasymiak believes being more efficient with the ball will lead to more scores later in the game.
“Again, I think it’s first and second-down efficiency,” Harasymiak said. “I know people people probably don’t want to hear that, but against Power 4 opponents and you’re in third and long, it’s just not going to work. We got to put ourself in better position.”
Saturday’s game falls on Homecoming Weekend for UMass, which is fitting since former Minutemen head coach Walt Bell will return to Amherst as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Bell went 2-23 in three seasons at UMass.
Kickoff for Saturday’s MAC opener is set for 2:30 p.m.
