Drum roll, please -- the team  descends steps toward first moment on new field turf of Rice Stadium

Here the guys mill around a bit, trying to get comfortable with the somewhat squishy feel of the new 'grass'

First play rep on the new Rice Stadium turf -- and it was frosh Pierre Beasley to do the honors (his turn in the rotation)

Gary Anderson tucks it under and runs after making nice catch

Oskie! True frosh Joseph Agnew, a 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back from Southlake Carroll, skies for pickoff-- it was just as pretty as it looks

Pass thrown 'in the dirt' actually kicks up divot composed of rubber pellets --   vacuum job still needed to put field at 100 per cent

Mike Falco has to wait on the sideline while trainer runs over to deliver him new pair of cleats after he 'blew a tire' the play before

Owl offensive unit huddles beneath the shadow of the goal posts while -- wait, what's wrong with this picture?

Pierre Beasley takes snap while  Will Shoppa (86) does tight end thing and Brian Raines defends

Almost!  Brandon King skies for interception only to have the ball squirt just out of his hands -- great effort, but the miss earned him 10 pushups

Hands up by defense means fourth down