It’s not often you can say you did something for the first time in history.

The 2025 Bryant Bulldogs and head coach Chris Merritt can now say that forever after earning the program’s first win against an FBS school, beating UMass last Saturday.

Perhaps more importantly, it was validation for the belief that the tide was turning for Bryant with a big investment from the school behind the program and some stability now in the CAA.

“I took a lot of pride and have said…being part of this conference, the step up that the university has made here in the last two years, the last year…we came close a couple years ago against FIU in overtime, but this one, I was really happy for the kids,” Merritt said during Monday’s weekly CAA coaches Zoom call.

“I love their grit, their fight…especially the way they were at halftime. I think getting that touchdown before half to pull the game a little bit closer, our guys were chomping on the bit and couldn’t wait to get out of the locker room for the second half and they played like it.”

Going into the game, Merritt had a feeling that Saturday could finally be the night based on the team’s season opening loss.

“I liked the way we played against New Mexico State. I thought we had some self-inflicted wounds that kind of cost us in that ball game given the fact that it was a tight ballgame entering the fourth quarter. We did some things…there’s a difference between beating yourself and being beaten. I think we helped New Mexico State quite a bit there in the second half on some stuff.

“We feel like we got that fixed – or at least addressed – and then going into the game against UMass, I liked the matchup with their secondary and our receivers. Thought we could take advantage of it and I thought the play calling reflected that. I really think their front got tired in the second half from pass rushing and that opened up our run game a little bit there. I think we played some good complementary football in the second half.”

Now, the key is to build off it and not just let it be a fleeting ‘special moment’ for the program.

That starts with the home opener against Division 2 Bentley on Saturday.