SEE THE DAY ONE VIDEO

The three most important things in an early August football practice? Hydration. Hydration. Hydration.

At least that was the case on Sunday as Portland State opened practice at a hot and steamy Stott Community Field. The ambient temperature was 96 degrees midway through practice, while the turf registered about 15 degrees warmer.

Still, that didn't deter the Vikings from their appointed duties in a spirited two-and-a-half-hour practice. In fact, it played right into the theme that third-year Head Coach Nigel Burton has from his team's 2012 campaign: No Excuses.

"In the end, if we are going to take steps as a program, that is one last thing we have to make sure of," said Burton. "We have great kids who really have bought into everything we talked about. It is kind of the culture nowadays with kids (making excuses)… we are this and that, and we are young… and really there is no excuse. There are a lot of guys busting their butts that really don't care. If you are a freshman on the field we expect you to do the job. Those are the things we have tried to instill in them and they have bought in hook, line and sinker."

"No excuses really carries more of a dynamic to what we have going on here," said senior offensive lineman Kyle Ritt said. "We are going to be able to take the next step from that."

As for the heat, Ritt dismissed the thought that the unusual Portland weather would be a factor on day one. "You gotta keep going. You gotta keep plugging away. (The temperature) is only a number.

Talking about his final season as a Viking, the Aloha, OR native knows big things lie ahead. "I'm excited to be here… I'm excited to exceed what we did last year," said Ritt. "It's just an awesome opportunity for the team. We're not sneaking up on anybody. Everybody knows who we are and what we do. We are just going to come at it harder this year."

Senior wide receiver Justin Monahan echoed those thoughts. "It's a great feeling to come out here the first day. We have a lot of work ahead of us. It's an honor to play this sport at this high a level. Not a lot of people get to do that.

"We have a bunch new guys, some freshmen, transfers, and new quarterbacks. So on the offensive side of the ball, we have to get our timing down and get (the new players) on the same page.

"We have one goal… and that's to win the conference. We have 30 days to prepare and go get this conference."

SISLER MOVES TO SAFETY: Due to great depth at linebacker and the loss of the top three safeties to graduation last season, SR Joel Sisler is making the move to strong safety. Sisler has played outside linebacker for the Vikings the past three seasons, starting 27 of 31 career games. The move makes a lot of sense as Sisler has great knowledge of the defense, excellent speed as an OLB, and most of all has had a nose for the ball throughout his career. Last year, Sisler had three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, four pass breakups and was in on a pair of sacks.

Sisler isn't too concerned about the transition after three seasons as a Viking linebacker.

"After I learned the linebacker position I learned a lot of about all of the other positions so I knew where my help was," said Sisler of the Viking defense. "So, transferring to safety - I still have to learn the ins and outs and techniques - its not that big of a step. I could play corner or I could play d-line because I know what they do."

And, though speed is vital, Sisler has an interesting analysis of the difference between linebacker and safety.

"I have to react a little slower. I can't just jump into a gap like a linebacker will do. I have to let the receivers come to me. That is the biggest difference."

And after a career as a linebacker, Sisler didn't flinch when asked to move to safety.

"Anything to help the team. That is thing for me," said Sisler.

He also likes the chance to make more plays.

"You can see more field. You get more space to play and have more range. You can see the quarterback and the ball longer so you have more opportunity to move on the ball. We have a pretty solid defense, so hopefully I can make some big plays and help out the team this year," he said.

POSITION BATTLES: Also taking on a new look in 2012 will be the defensive line. JR DT Julious Moore and JR DE Bryant Long have the most experience among the returners, but the Vikings lost Alika Vaiese, Carl Sommer, Myles Wade and Jack Forbes  to graduation. So, a group of transfers figure to have a big impact this season. SR DE Marquis Jackson (a two-time All-Southwest Athletic Conference performer at Texas Southern), JR DE Nick Alexander (Boise State), JR DT Tomasi Molesi (Arizona Western JC) and JR DT Zack Ka'ahanui (Northern Arizona) join the fray and will all compete to start.

Said Burton of the competition to play on the defensive line, as well as other key spots like safety, quarterback and running back: "It's fun because everybody knows the best player is going to play. Just because you won the job in camp doesn't mean you are going to be the starter in game four. What it does is make us better over time. Those guys understand every job is up for grabs."

And what does that competition lead to?

"Our expectations are to get better every day from the moment we step on the field today. We should be better tomorrow, better the next day after that. Better than that on game one, and better than that on game three and four…"

The Vikings will practice at 3 p.m. every day through Thursday. Friday is the first double day with practices at 10:30 and 5:30. PSU will scrimmage on Saturday at 10 a.m.