Uga

Uga (pronounced UH-guh) is the name of a lineage of English Bulldogs owned by Frank W. "Sonny" Seiler, which have served as the mascot of the University of Georgia (UGA) since 1956.^[1] Although the University is located in Athens, Georgia, the dogs have lived with the Seilers in Savannah, Georgia.

In addition to Uga, a person in the costume of a bulldog also performs as Hairy Dawg at Georgia Bulldog athletic events.

Background

The dogs, tended by members of the Seiler family, are present at every Georgia Bulldogs home football game, most away games, and many University-related functions. Uga wears a spiked collar and a red jersey with varsity letter. In 2007, he wore a black jersey for the "Blackout" game against Auburn. Uga is friendly and outgoing, and loves to lick children who attend the games.^{[citation needed]} His jersey is made from the same fabric as the players' official game jerseys. Uga is even issued an official student identification card. Uga travels in an air conditioned dog house and sits on bags of ice at games, as the breed is susceptible to heat stroke (a problem in the humid southeastern United States).

To date, there have been seven dogs to carry the name "Uga", which is derived from an abbreviation for the University of GeorgiA. Each is the son of his predecessor, and each is a solid white English Bulldog. Deceased Ugas are interred in a mausoleum near the main entrance to Sanford Stadium. An epitaph describing each dog graces the mausoleum nameplates. Several Ugas have "retired" as part of elaborate pre-game ceremonies, during which there is a "passing of the bone" and the new Uga begins his reign. Uga even has his own cheer, "Damn good dog!" that the fans shout, during the ceremony. This tradition dates back to the very first Uga.

Uga VI died of congestive heart failure on Friday, June 27, 2008. Seiler reported that on the evening of his death Uga VI "was breathing heavily" and died soon thereafter. University of Georgia Athletics Director Damon Evans called the date of Uga VI's death "a sad day for the entire Bulldog Nation." As on any sad day for the University of Georgia, the university's flag was flown at half staff. Published reports touted Uga VI's win-loss record in Georgia football as the best in the University's history.^[2]

Uga VII was named as "Uga VI's Loran's Best" on Friday August 29, 2008, the day before the school's first home game of the 2008 season. He was officially introduced on Saturday, August 30, 2008, at that game, which UGA won.^[3][4] Uga VII died on November 19, 2009, from a heart attack.^[5] His doghouse was left vacant, with a wreath placed on it, for the game on November 21 against Kentucky.^[6] Russ, another bulldog from the Uga family line, will fill in as an "interim mascot" for the Georgia Tech game and possibly the bowl game, similar to Otto stepping in for Uga IV.^[7] Regarding the selection of a permanent mascot, however, the Seilers have said, "There’s lineage out there we can depend on in unforeseen cases such as this."^[8]

Genealogy of Uga namesakes

• Uga I ("Hood's Ole Dan," 1956–1966) – the original, a grandson of a bulldog that accompanied the Georgia football team to its Rose Bowl victory and national championship in 1942. One SEC football title (1959).
• Uga II ("Ole Dan's Uga," 1966–1972) – two Southeastern Conference (SEC) football titles (1966 and 1968) and one national title (1968 Litkenhaus poll).
• Uga III ("Seiler's Uga Three," 1972–1981) – presided over Georgia's second consensus national championship season in 1980 and two SEC championships (1976 and 1980).
• Uga IV ("Uga III's Magillicuddy/Seiler's Uga Four," 1981–1990) – was the first live mascot ever invited to a Heisman trophy presentation in 1982 when, while wearing a tux, Uga IV accompanied Herschel Walker to the Downtown Athletic Club; two SEC championships (1981 and 1982).
• Uga V ("Uga IV's Magillicuddy II," 1990–1999) – portrayed his father, Uga IV, in the motion picture Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and was on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1997;^[9] propelled to the national spotlight when he lunged at an Auburn wide receiver, Robert Baker, during a game in 1996.
• Uga VI ("Uga V's Whatchagot Loran," 1999–2008) – two SEC championships (2002 and 2005), two Sugar Bowl victories (2003 and 2008), and more than 20 victories over ranked opponents, more than any Uga before him. Uga VI was also larger than any of his predecessors, weighing in at 65 pounds. Uga VI has the best winning percentage and most wins overall of any Uga.
• Uga VII ("Uga VI's Loran's Best," 2008–2009)^[10] – his tenure ended abruptly, near the end of his second season, when he suffered a heart attack on November 19, 2009.

The names "Magillicuddy," "Loran's Best" and "Whatchagot Loran" were given in honor of longtime Georgia icons Dan Magill and Loran Smith, respectively (when former lead radio announcer Larry Munson called Smith for a sideline report, he asked "Whatchagot Loran?").

Temporary mascots

Although there have been seven Ugas to date, at least three other bulldogs from the same family line have served as temporary sideline mascots.

• Bugga Lou - 1971 - This unrelated, female, brown-and-white bulldog filled in for an ailing Uga II for the South Carolina and Florida games during the 1971 season.^[11]
• Argos/Knute - 1972 - The dog's given name at birth was Argos, but he had been given to another family member and had his named changed to Knute before he was called into service. Served as temporary mascot for the first game of the 1972 season against Baylor, since Uga II had died and the future Uga III wasn't deemed to be mature enough to serve yet. Uga III was introduced for the second game of the '72 season against North Carolina.^[11]
• Otto - 1986 - Otto, the older brother of Uga IV, filled in for him during four games in the 1986 season after Uga IV injured his left hind knee jumping off a hotel bed prior to a game against Vanderbilt. Otto finished with a 3–1 record. He also served as co-mascot for the Georgia Tech game that year with Uga IV. Former legendary coach Vince Dooley has said that Otto was his favorite Georgia mascot, "because he came off the bench and got the job done."^[11][12]
• Magillicuddy I - 1989 - He filled in for an ailing Uga IV, his brother, at the 1989 Peach Bowl. Uga IV died after the end of the 1989 season, but Magillicuddy was considered to be too old to be named the new mascot.^[11]
• Russ - 2009 - The five-year-old half-brother of Uga VII filled in during Georgia's 30-24 upset of in-state rival Georgia Tech and will possibly attend the team's bowl game after the death of Uga VII. According to associate athletics director Claude Felton, he will not become the new Uga VIII.^[7]

See also

• Bulldog breeds
• Damn Good Dog – a documentary detailing the history of the Uga dynasty
• List of Bulldog mascots

References

External links

• Uga Through The Years
• FindAGrave.com entries for all mascots buried at Sanford Stadium

Other reading

• A Damn Good Dog Turns 50!, by Dawn Downes in the October, 2006 Atlanta DogLife Magazine (link to magazine)

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