TIFTON — The 2008 football season will not begin for the University of Georgia Bulldogs until Aug. 30, when Georgia hosts the Georgia Southern Eagles at Sanford Stadium.

Bulldog fans are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2008 campaign as Georgia could possibly begin the season as the top-ranked team in the national preseason polls.

But, while his team finished second in the nation in 2007 and has a number of players returning, Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt wants to warn fans about going ahead and making plans to be in Miami for the national championship game in January.

Richt came to Tifton Tuesday for the annual Bulldawg Classic golf tournament that was held at Spring Hill Country Club.

The Georgia coach did his best to throw ice water on the rampant aspirations of Bulldog fans.

“It is going to be tough this season,” said Richt. “We will be facing a schedule that will feature coaches that have won 10 different national championships.”

He added, “Every year fans want you to be the national champion. We want that too, but you have to take them one game at a time.

“It is hard to get up 12 times in a row, and anyone on our schedule is very capable of beating us.”

Richt pointed out the Bulldogs will have to face LSU and Florida back-to-back, and with a laugh, he added, “It wasn’t very smart of us to add Arizona State.”

Before the event began, the Georgia coach talked to the over 100 participants in the event, which is held to raise money for various camps the university holds for high school coaches.

After thanking the participants for helping raise money for the camps, Richt talked about Georgia’s just-completed spring practice schedule.

“We are trying to teach them fundamentals again,” said Richt. “We want them to compete for playing time and prove they are ready to play.”

Richt then went on to add, “Some of the guys have proven they are ready to play, and they have become leaders.”

As far as injuries during the spring, Richt was happy Georgia only suffered one major setback as linebacker Marcus Washington will miss the 2008 campaign.

“He was already a 4-year senior, now he will be a 5-year senior. He will redshirt this year and come back next year,” said Richt.

A big key to Georgia’s possible success this season will come this summer, the Georgia coach feels.

“Now until the fall, we can’t coach them. The seniors have to take over now, and make sure the team continues to work,” said Richt. “We can easily regress, if we don’t work. You just have to know that in order for us to win, we have to prepare this summer. It is on the team leaders right now.”

As far as positions are concerned, Richt immediately talked about place-kicking. The Bulldogs lost do-everything Brandon Coutu to graduation, and it has the Georgia coach worried.

“We better find a kicker,” said Richt.

Brian Mimbs will be back to punt, and he will also hold on the place-kicks.

A participant asked about upcoming redshirt-sophomore Knowshon Moreno, who set the Georgia world ablaze in 2007 with a breakout season that saw him rush for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also caught 20 passes for 253 yards.

“Knowshon has proven he is a great player,” said Richt.

Moreno could have help in 2008 from redshirt-freshman Caleb King, who was a bright spot in the G-Day spring game this past Saturday.

“Caleb King is a talent. He has a little extra in him, that I like,” said Richt.

The coach added, “We also have talented fullbacks (led by junior Brannen Southerland).”

On the other side of the ball, “We have a lot of depth on defense,” said Richt.

“We have six or seven defensive ends that are doing well. We also have four or five defensive linemen that are ready to go.”

He went on to talk favorably about his linebackers and defensive backs. Richt also took time to praise cornerback Asher Allen, as he said, “Asher is a good player, and a good all-around kid.”

While a majority of the Georgia coaching staff went out to play with the participants, Richt headed back to Athens after talking to the players.