The T-Birds landed in the happiest place on Each Tuesday, or at least that's what SUU football head coach Ed Lamb thought.

SUU opened training camp Tuesday morning, hitting the gridiron for the first time in preparation for the upcoming 2013 season.

"The first day for guys this age — it's Disneyland," Lamb said. "They're having a blast right now. They've been waiting all year for this and working hard for it. I enjoyed it and they showed up how I expected them to show up, and they showed up exactly how teams show up on the first day with a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, attention to detail, urgency. Today it was cool to be a football player and if it can still be cool a month or two from now ... we have a chance to be a pretty good team."

That sentiment was carried throughout the team.

Though there were errors and misthrows, bobbled passes and fumbles scattered here and there, the energy on the field was bright and the mood in the huddle after practice was loose. The first practice even ended with a dance off among those who successfully completed a workout challenge earlier in the morning.

"They're all happy to be here with each other," Lamb added. "A lot of the guys were here over the summer, but some of our new guys are just coming in and some of the guys were here for different periods of the summer and this is the first time everyone's back together. They're having a blast."

There were several new faces on the field for the T-Birds, as the incoming class of freshmen laced up for their first practice ever at Eccles Coliseum. They were added by a couple more transfers, including quarterback transfer Richie Harrington, who took several snaps Tuesday under center.

Either Harrington or fellow newcoming quarterback Aaron Cantu will likely have the daunting task of replacing Brad Sorensen, who started the last three seasons for the T-Birds and became SUU's first ever NFL draft pick in the spring.

Cantu, who looked strong for SUU in the Spring game earlier this year, took the majority of snaps Tuesday and even spent time after practice strengthening his relationship with the T-Bird receiving corps.

"We just have to get that relationship with the receivers as far as timing," he said. "Brad is a great quarterback and I'm just honored to be in his shoes now, but we've got competition now, so I have to be on my A-game and likewise all the other quarterbacks."

Regardless, the first day ended in all smiles and that's one of the goals Lamb has for the 2013 season, begins Aug. 29 at South Alabama.

"If football can remain as important as it was today for the next week and the next month, and the whole season, we're going to have a really good team," Lamb said.

Meanwhile, the team has other lofty goals, such as a Big Sky title and a spot in the NCAA FCS tournament come November, despite being picked by both Big Sky media and coaches to place No. 9 in the conference.

"If we can keep this excitement through the season, we're going to have a great season," offensive lineman Gavin Farr said. "...we want to go undefeated every year and so I think we have the team to do it. We just have to put the work in and listen to coach Lamb, he'll lead us the way."