VALDOSTA — Wednesday was a Dawg Day in Valdosta as the Valdosta Bulldog Club welcomed head football coach Mark Richt and held a celebration open to the public at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.

Richt, the coach of the nation’s preseason ranked No. 1 football team met hundreds of Georgia fans, chatted on stage with Chuck Dowdle of WSB Channel 2, answered questions from the crowd and signed countless autographs.

“I’m glad to be in Valdosta,” Richt said. “There are always a lot of great people, and a lot of great Bulldogs here.”

The evening started with Richt meeting with media followed by a VIP meet-and-greet before Richt entered the conference center’s main room for the evening’s event.

Hamilton Tillman talked with Richt as he had a football signed by the Georgia coach. Tillman asked if the coach knew any of his Athens relatives, before hoping, along with Richt, that the team stays healthy this upcoming season.

“It’s a great thing,” Tillman said. “It’s always good to meet the head coach. I was hoping the team stays injury free, that has been the biggest problem in other seasons.”

As soon as the Bulldogs’ coach walked in the room, a line formed out the door to get pictures, helmets, jerseys, footballs and other UGA memorabilia signed.

Among the fans were 11-year old Cody and 15-year old Blake Jennings of Colquitt, having Richt sign a photo and a helmet.

Valdosta Bulldog Club President Fleming Hunt then welcomed the crowd of around 500 red and black faithful, and along with Vice President Carl Holley handed out door prizes. The two then gave Richt a hand-made fly fishing pole as a memento from the Valdosta Bulldog Club.

Holley then turned it over to Dowdle who turned the crowd’s attention to a video playing highlights from all of Georgia’s athletic programs, including the national champion equestrian, men’s tennis and gymnastics teams.

Following the video and a rousing round of Bulldog barking, Dowdle and Richt talked about the offseason, last season, and the coming season.

Richt told the crowd at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center that a big part in last season’s success came following a loss to Tennessee, where he told the team it needed to find some heart.

They found that heart in a penalty-inducing celebration against Florida, where he said he thought just 11 players would celebrate not the whole team, and the blackout against Auburn. Richt also told the crowd the black jersey’s would be out again this season, but didn’t release the game.

The conversation then went to this season, and Georgia’s tough road schedule. Before the event started Richt said he hopes this year will be a successful one, but will need health on his side and leaders to step up.

“We hope to have a great year,” Richt said. “You just have to go through the process of preparing for all of the opponents, hope you stay healthy and hope your leaders come through in the pressure situations, because there are going to be a lot of close games and you have to find a way to win them.”