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AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > August > 01
Friday, August 1, 2008
View from the top
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
So this is how it feels.
All the off-season speculation is over now and the coaches have made it official. Georgia is the pre-season No. 1 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
It’s a new experience for the Bulldog Nation. This is the first time the Dawgs have been ranked on top in a major pre-season poll and the first time they’ve been ranked No. 1 since the end of the 1982 season in the Herschel era. UGA’s sports publicity folks say the Dawgs’ previous highest pre-season rankings by major polls were in 1942 (2nd by AP), 2004 (3rd by AP, 4th by the coaches) and 1967 (6th, AP).
Of course, the AP writers’ poll is still to come, but it isn’t part of the BCS formula like the USA Today poll is.
Holding on to the top spot will be tough, probably the toughest challenge any Georgia football team has ever faced. They’ll have to overcome a tough schedule, some question marks in the offensive line and kicking game, and the mind games that big expectations can play with college kids, as well as avoiding major injuries. Luck always plays a part in it, too.
What counts, of course, is who ends up No. 1 and No. 2 at the end of the season and playing in the championship game. But a high pre-season ranking is a major advantage and gives the Dawgs some wiggle room as the season unfolds. Ask LSU about that.
Bottom line: The nation’s coaches think that, at this point before the first game is played, Georgia is the best team in the country.
Damn, that feels good.
