It's been said many times and many ways, but the bottom line is - August means fun and excitement for college football coaches.

While most people are lamenting there are but a few weeks of summer remaining, Idaho coach Robb Akey is joining his colleagues nationwide in the celebration of August - grueling two-a-day practices, all-day coaches meetings, playbooks, sweat, the thud of pads. It makes him smile.

"It's the best time of the year," said Akey as he continued his final countdown to the first practice of 2012 - 3:30 p.m. today. "I'm excited as can be."

One reason for excitement in the Vandal camp is the beginning of the opportunity to wash away the 2011 season, which ended up with Idaho coming up on the short end of too many close games. Hence the mantra for 2012 - finish.

"I used the word finish 759 times just in media day," Akey said in reference to last week's Western Athletic Conference media gathering at Las Vegas. "That's just talking to the cameras in one day. You can imagine what it's going to be like talking to these players.

"It's all about finishing. There's that fine line between winning and not winning. You have a chance to make that play. It will help us make a difference."

Part of Akey's excitement for that first practice stems from the knowledge that every scholarship player spent the summer in Moscow taking a couple extra classes to forge ahead in school and spend many an hour in the weight room and on the practice field in player-organized sessions to prep for 2012.

The first step, though, will be revisiting the basics.

"When we go to fall camp," Akey said, "we start at square one. If you're good at fundamentals, you have the opportunity for those plays, those calls to work."

The Vandals open the 2012 season at home against Eastern Washington at 6 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 30. Season and individual game tickets are on sale now at www.GoVandals.com or by calling (208) 885-6466.

FALL CAMP SCHEDULE

Thursday - 3:30 p.m.; Friday - 2:30 p.m.; Saturday - 2:30 p.m.; Sunday - 7 p.m.; Monday - 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 7 - 2:30 p.m. (scrimmage); Wednesday, Aug. 8 - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 9 - 2:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 10 - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 11 - 2:30 p.m. (scrimmage).; Sunday, Aug. 12 - 2:30 p.m.; Monday, Aug. 13 - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 14 - 2:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 15 - 9 a.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 16 - 2:30 p.m. (scrimmage). Friday, Aug. 17 - 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 18 - 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 19 - off.; Monday, Aug. 20 - school begins.