Previews, Predictions and Game Thread: Game #10 vs. UMass Tuesday Nov. 4th @ 7pm ("MACTION")

[catdaddyp]

2024 Rewind:

Don Brown was let go before the season ended in his third year with the Minutemen, as they stumbled to a 2-10 finish. He wasn’t able to recapture the same success he had leading UMass during their FCS days. Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak is the new man tabbed to take on the seemingly endless UMass turnaround.

 

 

Recruiting under Harasymisk:

2025:

On3 - 13th in MAC

247 - 13th in MAC

 

 

Minutemen on Offense:

UMass will have a tremendous amount of new faces seeing significant playing time this season, including at quarterback, which will be filled by either Yale transfer Grant Jordan or little-used Utah transfer Brandon Rose.

 

The running back room will be almost completely new and feature mostly youth and inexperience. UTSA transfer Rocco Griffin will be the only player with significant snaps at the G5 level.

 

Ty Harding and Jacquon Gibson return at wide receiver, with USF transfer Tyree Kelly rounding out the starting group. Harding and Gibson combined for 42 catches, 604 yards, and 6 touchdowns last season. Reece Adkins will compete with Illinois transfer Owen Anderson at tight end.

 

The offensive line will be almost entirely new, with only interior lineman Benjamin Roy and tackle Ryan Mosesso returning as starters. As we’ve seen in some other situations, so many new faces at an underperforming position may not actually be a bad thing.

 

 

Minutemen on Defense:

UMass will likely run a different defensive scheme than what “Dr. Blitz” had in place. Three of the four starters up front will be new to the team, with incoming transfers from Jackson State, UConn, Virginia Tech, Maine, McNeese State, and Rutgers all in the mix. Former Zips defensive line coach Nyeem Wartman now holds the same position at UMass.

 

There are questions at linebacker, with no guaranteed starters heading into fall camp. It'll be a competition between transfers and some of last year’s backups to see who earns the job.

 

The secondary is more of the same, with transfers and last season’s backups competing for spots. That said, this group probably has the most upside talent on the defensive side of the ball, despite their lack of overall experience at this level.

 

Cal transfer Derek Morris will take over at kicker, while Texas A&M transfer Keegan Andrew takes over at punter.

 

 

Position Advantage:

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I don’t see a single position—at least at this point in the offseason—where UMass is a clear favorite over Akron.

 

QB - Akron

RB - Akron

WR - Akron

TE - Akron

OL - Even

DL - Even

LB - Akron

DB - Akron

ST - Even

 

 

Way too Early Prediction:

UMass has a lot to figure out on both sides of the ball. Chances are, by the time this game is played, a number of different starters will be on the field compared to who began the season. UMass may be heavily investing in their football program by MAC standards, but I have a hard time seeing many wins on their schedule in 2025. Who knows though—maybe they’ll be the surprise team of the conference this year. Extremely doubtful, but there’s always one or two that catch everyone off guard.

 

I’m sure the UMass fanbase is circling this matchup as a certain win, yet I just don’t think the Minutemen have enough in the tank to pull it out. Also, this is usually the point in the season where things really start clicking for the Zips under Moorhead. I’m calling for Akron to win 30-20.

 

[Captain Kangaroo]

At home, versus a hapless Minutemen team. coming off a MAC road win at Buffalo, this is a "must win" game for the Zips.

 

Should they win, the Zips are poised to force the locals to pay at least a little attention to the program as the Kent game approaches. They absolutely cannot take a step backwards with a home loss next Tuesday.

 

A win would go a long way in securing Joe Moorhead's return in 2026. That is...should he want to return. But that's a story for the offseason.

 

The Zips have done a good job of handling their business against lesser teams. Relatively healthy, at home, and coming off a road win, I see a 41-17 Zips  beatdown of UMass next Tuesday, setting the table for a fun, intriguing Akron/Kent match up the following week.

 

I think I saw Joe Akron's left big toe move a little? Could he be emerging from his coma?

[MangoZip]

2 weeks ago Umass was leading Buffalo at half and only lost by 7 to them. Don’t get me wrong, they are not good, but the Zips can’t take anyone lightly! 
 

In regards to Joe at the end of the season, I think he asks for some changes: increased budget, some modest NIL dollars, etc and if he doesn’t get it he walks. If so, I just hope it happens fairly quickly after the end of the season so Akron has time to find a replacement. It would be bad for the program, and the players, if it drags out and he resigns in mid January. 

[kreed5120]

1 hour ago, MangoZip said:

2 weeks ago Umass was leading Buffalo at half and only lost by 7 to them. Don’t get me wrong, they are not good, but the Zips can’t take anyone lightly! 
 

In regards to Joe at the end of the season, I think he asks for some changes: increased budget, some modest NIL dollars, etc and if he doesn’t get it he walks. If so, I just hope it happens fairly quickly after the end of the season so Akron has time to find a replacement. It would be bad for the program, and the players, if it drags out and he resigns in mid January. 

 

I wouldn't be terribly heartbroken if he decides to leave on his own free will. Getting to 5 or 6 wins is kind of his ceiling at Akron IMO.

 

He comes off more as an old school coach and not the smooth talker who can get boosters to open up their checkbook. In this NIL era you need a salesman. Not someone who just complains about the shitty hand they're being dealt.

 

Edit: All that said I'm also not cheering for him to leave either. We can and certainly have done worse.

Edited 5 hours ago by kreed5120