ATHENS--Coach Mark Richt was mad, and no one could blame him. It was the first media day in Athens prior to the first practice of 2008, and he wanted to talk about the team, but all he could talk about was the trouble.

He knew this going in. His opening statement mentioned the off-field problems and the distractions they have been causing the team. For the next 30 minutes he fielded questions about his team; 98 percent of which were about disclipline. You could see that this fine coach, who prides himself with not only teaching the game of football, but also helping young men succeed in live, was hurt and disappointed about the recent wave of problems.

Since the Monday press conference, though, the news has been encouraging for the Dawgs. The weather has been in usual August-like in Georgia, and the reports have been that the team is pushing hard and practicing well.

Sometimes adversity can pull a team together, and just maybe all the negative press that the media feeds on in today's society, will help the young men to a good season. The reports of top wide out recruit AJ Green are encouraging, even though he has suffered a mild hip flexor strain to hold him back. There has been good competition at offensive line, and at the number two running back spot. We all new Caleb King would be considered as the number two, but according to Chip Towers of the AJC, apparently true freshmen Richard Samuel and Dontavius Jackson are making a serious run at playing time as well.

The key word for any successful college football team is depth. If the players can continue to step up, this number one ranking may not have been too much as many are led to believe.