English Bulldog Uga: Georgia's Mascot Through the Years and Behind the Scenes

Uga, the beloved English Bulldog, has been a beloved fixture at the University of Georgia for over 90 years. Uga's first appearance was in 1956.

Uga's iconic red and black jersey has become synonymous with Bulldogs football. The jersey has undergone several design changes over the years, but its significance remains the same.

As a mascot, Uga's main job is to entertain and engage with fans, but he also takes his responsibilities seriously. Uga is trained to perform specific tasks, such as sitting and shaking paws.

Uga's popularity extends far beyond the football field, with fans of all ages adoring the lovable bulldog.

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The history of UGA mascots is a fascinating one. The University of Georgia adopted the Bulldog as its mascot name in the 1920s.

For a long time, the school didn't have a live mascot, but rather a goat on the sidelines for their first football game in the late 1800s.

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Trilby, a Boston Terrier, became a temporary mascot in 1894, but it wasn't until 1956 that the first Uga, Uga I, stepped onto the stage.

Uga I was the original canine that started it all, and all subsequent Ugas are descended from him. They've all taken on the "Uga" name and received the famous spiked collar.

The school has had its fair share of stand-in bulldogs over the years, including Otto, who served in 1986 for four games, and Russ, who bridged the gap between Uga VII and VIII and Uga IX and X.

Uga X retired, and Uga XI took over in 2023, marking the latest chapter in this beloved tradition.

Each Uga has its own unique story, but they all share the same honor of being a part of the game-day experience.

The bulldog mascots at the University of Georgia are a beloved tradition. They've been a part of the game-day experience since 1956.

Uga I was the original canine mascot, and the tradition has continued with each new dog taking on the "Uga" name. They're all descendants of that original bulldog.

There have been 11 Ugas so far, with the current one being Uga XI. The school is proud of its tradition and the care provided by the Seiler family, who take care of the dogs.

Not everyone is a fan of the live bulldog mascots, though. PETA has called on the university to stop using a live animal as a mascot, citing concerns about the dog's well-being.

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Hood's Ole Dan was given to Cecelia Seiler by a friend and made his first appearance during Georgia's home-opener against Florida State University.

He wasn't actually born to the Seiler family, which is a unique start for a beloved mascot.

Uga I was given the title "Uga" by William Young, one of Frank Seiler's classmates in law school, an abbreviation for the University of Georgia.

After his death, Hood's Ole Dan was buried in a marble vault near the main gate of the south stands at Sanford Stadium.

A special honor, considering Georgia is the only major college that buries its mascots within the confines of the stadium, according to the Pittsburgh Press.

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Seiler's Uga Three was arguably the most successful Uga, at least until the 21st century rolled around.

He oversaw the 1980 championship season, when Georgia football claimed its first national championship in school history.

Seiler's Uga Three attended six bowl games in nine years, culminating with the greatest prize in college football.

He retired after that season, ending his career on the 100th game of his tenure.

Seiler's Uga Three's tenure was marked by incredible success, and he remains one of the most beloved Ugas in Georgia football history.

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Seiler's Four was a beloved Uga who served as the Georgia Bulldogs mascot from 1981 to 1989. He was a natural at the job.

During his nine seasons as Uga, Seiler's Four accumulated an impressive record of 77-27-4. That's a winning percentage of .737, which is no small feat.

Seiler's Four made history by becoming the first Uga to attend the Heisman ceremony in 1982, where he met Herschel Walker. What an unforgettable experience that must have been for the young bulldog.

In 1986, Seiler's Four had a bit of a mishap before a game against Vanderbilt. He jumped off a hotel bed and injured himself, requiring a brief replacement by his son Otto.

During the 1999-2008 period, Uga VI took center stage as the Georgia Bulldog mascot. Uga VI was the biggest Uga in university history, weighing in at 65 pounds.

Uga VI's reign was marked by impressive stats, including overseeing 114 games, the most of any Uga to date.

Uga VII was a beloved mascot for the University of Georgia, and his time as Loran's Best was a memorable one. He won 10 games during his first season, a remarkable achievement.

The 2008-2009 season was a special one for Uga VII, and it culminated in a 24-12 win at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando. This was a thrilling conclusion to his first year as mascot.

Unfortunately, Uga VII's time as mascot was cut short due to heart-related issues, and he passed away in 2009. His unexpected passing was a shock to the team and the fans.

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The 2010-11 season was a challenging time for Uga VIII, as Big Bad Bruce was diagnosed with lymphoma. He managed to appear in the final six regular season games that year.

Big Bad Bruce's condition was severe enough that he missed the 2010 bowl game against the University of Central Florida.

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Russ took over as Uga in 2012, but he wasn't new to the role. He had already served as the interim Uga after Uga VII's death.

Russ wasn't the typical pure white English Bulldog, but he still had a successful tenure. He served as Uga from 2012 to 2015.

Georgia won the SEC East twice during Russ's reign, and the team claimed two bowl victories during that time.

The University of Georgia has a long line of live bulldogs named UGA, with the first one stepping into the spotlight in 1956.

These canine mascots are a key part of the game-day experience and are descended from the original Uga I.

The school is currently up to Uga XI, who took over for the 2023 campaign after Uga X retired.

Each UGA mascot receives the famous spiked collar when it's time to step into the spotlight.

Besides the fame, being a UGA mascot comes with some perks, including an air-conditioned doghouse.

Uga XI, the current mascot, gets to enjoy the varsity letter and will eventually be buried in Sanford Stadium.

PETA has repeatedly called on the university to stop using a live animal as a mascot, citing concerns about the dog's well-being.

The organization has been vocal about their opposition, even going so far as to say that Uga should be retired immediately.

PETA has accused the university of promoting "deformed dogs" and believes a human mascot would be a better fit.

The school, however, remains committed to using Uga as its mascot, and athletic director Josh Brooks has spoken out in support of the tradition.

We are proud of our beloved mascot, and the Seiler family provides excellent care for Uga.

Uga XI, also known as Boom, is a one-year-old English Bulldog. He's the latest in a long line of Ugas to serve as the Georgia Bulldogs' official mascot.

Uga and his descendants have been with the program since 1956, when Sonny Seller brought Uga I to a Georgia football game. This tradition has been going strong for over 65 years.

Here are the ages of the other Ugas:

Uga X intimidated Texas's mascot, Bevo, enough to make the Longhorn charge him before the 2019 Peach Bowl.