For the first time in school history, Georgia is No. 1 in the preseason AP poll.
The Bulldogs, who are also preseason No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches poll, edged out Ohio State by one first place vote for the top spot, receiving 22 to the Buckeyes’ 21.
“To me, I can’t think of any other word than, just, excitement,” head coach Mark Richt said. “I think it’s exciting for our program, people to feel that way about us. It fires me up. There’s a lot of responsibility that goes along with it, but let’s face it, the football world thinks we’ve got a shot and are holding us in high esteem right now.”
Quarterback Matthew Stafford said the Bulldogs need to prove they deserve to be No. 1 first.
“It’s obviously an honor to be (No. 1) especially since Georgia has never been it,” Stafford said. “But it means nothing until you get on the field and prove it. That’s what we’ve got to do – play football the way we know how and see what happens.”
Although the national media thinks Georgia is the top team in the land, the SEC media didn’t think the Bulldogs were No. 1 in its own division at the SEC Media Days in July. The SEC media voted Florida as the preseason favorite to win the conference.
“They know it’s a very rugged schedule, and I’m sure they’re looking at LSU and Florida back to back as a factor and thinking that might be too much for us to overcome,” Richt said, reasoning why the SEC media voted Florida over Georgia. “That would be my guess.”
redandblack.com
8/18/08
