MOSCOW, Idaho ? Football is underway on the University of Idaho campus and no one is more excited than head coach Robb Akey.

“There's been a lot of excitement waiting for this day to come,” Akey said. “I'm very happy this day is finally here. You can only play so much golf in the summer.”

The Vandals took to the field Tuesday afternoon but switch to 9 a.m. drills for the remainder of the week.

While there are 29 new faces in the mix, having a returning staff along with high numbers of returning players is important as Idaho prepares for its Aug. 30 opener at Arizona.

“They don't have to learn new faces,” he said. “They don't have to learn new offenses, defenses. They don't have to learn a new language. That helps us a tremendous amount as we look toward moving forward.”

That's not to say there won't be new faces in the lineup.

“We have open arms,” Akey said. “If they can help us, we're going to give them the opportunity.”

Should that happen, there are a number of players on the rosters who can relate to being thrust into the lineup as freshmen.

“With the number of freshmen,” Akey said in reference to 2007, “there were a lot of growing pains. But, there is a point where you are paid back for those growing pains. All of those kids have been in the arena. They know how to respond now.”

The Vandals practice at 9 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday with a 2:30 p.m. session scheduled Sunday. Their first two-a-day is Monday with 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. practices. Their first scrimmage is Aug. 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the Dome.