The UMass football team is wrapping up spring ball with just one practice left before this Saturday’s spring game. Practices began back on March 24, giving the team five weeks both in the bubble and on the field to prepare for the upcoming season.
Saturday’s game will look very similar to last year’s rendition, splitting the team in half as evenly as possible and playing with a 15-minute, running clock. Although it will simulate some game scenarios, the Minutemen won’t be tackling, just tagging instead to prevent injury.
It will be the first opportunity for fans to see the new look UMass squad in action, with new players at all position groups across the board. There are a few things that head coach Joe Harasymiak is especially excited about regarding his new group, hoping to put them on display to the crowd on Saturday.
“Speed, execution and health,” Harasymiak said of his most important things to see. “Hopefully, they just go out and put on a show. Hopefully, we get some explosives. Everybody wants offense. So hopefully we get that.”
With some spring games across the nation being canceled, the Minutemen contemplated not having a game of their own, but with so many moving pieces, decided to go through with it.
A big focal point throughout the spring has been at the skill position spots on the offensive side of the ball. With Pop Watson III and RJ Johnson III bringing new life to the quarterback room, and guys like Joseph Griffin Jr. and Drew Alsup proving to be some exciting weapons, new leaders and big-time playmakers are starting to set themselves apart.
“We need the [Watson’s], the [Griffin’s], all those guys, like it’s time to go,” Harasymiak said. “… We’ve tried to let them go out there and fail on their own so that they can understand what it takes. And ultimately, at the end of the day, it’s a decision between you and the guy next to you… I think those guys, all of them, have to step up.”
Up front, the Minutemen have been pushed throughout the spring, and Saturday’s game is expected to follow suit. Despite no tackling on the perimeter, both the offensive and defensive lines will be going at it, hoping to show off the hard work they’ve been putting in.
Harasymiak made it clear in March that he was going to push his players to their limits throughout spring ball, with players responding well to the challenge. Especially in the trenches, the second-year head coach has made it clear he is putting a lot of pressure on his big guys up front.
“We’ve pushed them really hard,” Harasymiak said. “… This is the most we’ve played football in any time period that I’ve been a coach… We’ve tried to push those groups, probably more than other groups, but I think the team has responded. I think our messaging has been about the toughness and connection, and I think we’re on our way, and now we’ve just got to keep going.”
Prior to Saturday’s game, UMass will host a family and alumni event for its program, followed by a youth clinic after the game, with other activities happening around the stadium.
The team wants to make it as similar to a normal game day as possible, gearing the players up one more time before they finish out their semesters and head home for the summer. The spring game is set for Saturday, April 25, at 12 p.m., and will have free admission to fans.
“It should be a great day,” Harasymiak said. “… We thought it was important to give that to our fans, this new team, this new group, get them out there.”
