GOOOOO DAWGS!!!!!

Dawgs ranked No. 1 in today's USA TODAY/Coaches poll

Coaches rank Georgia No. 1

By CHIP TOWERS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/01/08

Athens — It's official. Georgia is No. 1.

To date, the tremendous expectations for the Bulldogs in 2008 were mostly, well, just expectations. But with Friday morning's news that Georgia took the top spot in the USA Today/Coaches preseason poll, the notion that the Bulldogs should contend for a national championship this season is tangible and real. Georgia opens the season on Aug. 30 against Ga. Southern.

"Being number one in the coaches' preseason poll does have significance since it's one-third of the formula to decide who plays in the national championship game," Georgia coach Mark Richt said Friday in press release from the university. "But the postseason poll is the one that is the most important. However, I know the ranking is exciting for Georgia football and hopefully we can do our part to stay in the race."

Georgia has never been ranked No. 1 by a major poll in the preseason, according to the UGA sports communications office. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 2 by The Associated Press in 1942, No. 3 by AP in 2004 and No. 6 by AP in 1967. The highest preseason ranking they received from the coaches poll was No. 4 in 2004. Georgia finished No. 1 in 1942 in six different polls but not AP.

Georgia has already been declared preseason No. 1 in several preseason publications, including The Sporting News, Lindy's, Blue Ribbon and the Birmingham News. AJC columnist Mark Bradley and college football expert Tony Barnhart are among several media members who have tabbed the Bulldogs to win it all in 2008.

Oddly, Georgia, which finished last season ranked No. 2 by AP and No. 3 by the coaches, was not even predicted to win the Eastern Division in the Southeastern Conference this season, much less the overall league championship. That distinction went to Florida.

The complete poll:

1. Georgia
2. USC
3. Ohio State
4. Oklahoma
5. Florida
6. LSU
7. Missouri
8. West Virginia
9. Clemson
10. Texas
11. Auburn
12. Wisconsin
13. Kansas
14. Texas Tech
15. Virginia Tech
16. Arizona State
17. Brigham Young
18. Tennessee
19. Illinois
20. Oregon
21. South Florida
22. Penn State
23. Wake Forest
24. Michigan
25. Fresno State