New mascot, Uga VIII, will make debut next week
ATHENS – Help is on the way for Georgia’s beleaguered football team.
New mascot Uga VIII is scheduled to make his long-awaited debut at the Oct. 16 homecoming game against Vanderbilt in Sanford Stadium, Sonny Seiler told the AJC today. Seiler, of Savannah, owns the line of white English bulldogs that have served as Georgia’s mascot since 1956.
Seiler said the plan is to hold a “collaring” ceremony for Uga VIII before kickoff of the Vanderbilt game. He said UGA President Michael Adams, athletic director Greg McGarity, Seiler family members and interim mascot “Russ” will participate in the ceremony.
Seiler said he could not provide details about Uga VIII until next week, when he said the university will issue a news release and distribute a photograph. The photo will be taken in Savannah later this week, he said.
Seiler did offer a couple of hints today, saying Uga VIII is a “big” dog and a direct descendant of Uga VI.
Seiler previously had said there were several candidates to be Uga VIII but that all were too young to assume the role at the start of the season.
Uga VII died unexpectedly on Nov. 19, 2009, of heart-related causes.
Russ, UGA VII’s 5-year-old half-brother, has been serving as fill-in mascot while the Seiler family identified and readied the next Uga. Russ was said to be too old to be considered for the role of Uga VIII.
Georgia has a record of 3-4 with Russ as its mascot — 2-0 at the end of last season and 1-4 so far this season.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
230 comments Add your comment
oldbird
October 5th, 2010
2:02 pm
That was hilarious Alabama Jack. Tears in my eyes laughing.
Dawg Fan 4 Life
October 5th, 2010
2:03 pm
It’s about time that the TRUE UGA takes the field again. Maybe it’ll light some fire under the boys! And for all those blaming Richt for a poor season, let’s look at the obvious. He’s been the winningest coach in recent UGA history, except for Dooley, and is still one of the top 5 winningest coaches in the game right now. Sometimes seasons just suck, and it’s NOT only the COACHES fault. For all your complaining, let’s see YOU get out there and make some calls!
es54
October 5th, 2010
2:04 pm
5150 P.O.A.D
You are a real tool bag. Every article I read you are on here saying something pointless. Go somewhere else
Reptillicide
October 5th, 2010
2:05 pm
Bunch of Florida, GT and Bama jackasses commenting on here, that much is plainly obvious.
Can’t wait to see the new Uga. Go Dawgs!
"Da Real" Damon Evans
October 5th, 2010
2:10 pm
where PETA @? the vet school be cruel to man’s best friend that’s why they be losing on a regular.
Coach Rix needs to go to church and ask his maker for forgiveness.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
2:10 pm
es54
I am Asking what is russ’ record and why do all the UGA’s short and fat. UGAs can’t be the perfect body shape can he? I can’t see that type of dog buting a cow or bull buy yhe nose and dragging them to the ground. I just can’t see it. That is the technique by which bulldogs worked on the farm. Bulldogs didn’t risk breaking the cos leg by chomping on their hind legs.
ol' balls coach
October 5th, 2010
2:10 pm
C’mon, hasn’t Russ earned the right to turn this thing around?
Is he
October 5th, 2010
2:11 pm
Is he a 4 or 5 star recruit? If so, give him a year or so and he will be a mutt.
Chuck
October 5th, 2010
2:13 pm
Can the DOG coach?
Mr. Obvious
October 5th, 2010
2:15 pm
Unleashing a new UGA Mascot at this already-wasted season would be like trying to perform CPR on Abraham Lincoln at the 2010 Vandy game as well.
59bulldawg
October 5th, 2010
2:17 pm
LOL! at 2:10 comment by ol’ balls coach. Rolling in the floor laughing! And Hunk Erdown at 1:51. That’d be our luck for sure! LOL!
ManiacalDawgHoyden
October 5th, 2010
2:18 pm
Why not wait till the Auburn game? That’s the only time the UGAdogs seem to want to get up off their arses to fight!
Contractor
October 5th, 2010
2:21 pm
KJ,
I’m a huge Georgia fan, and an English Bulldog owner, and your Slimer comment has me laughing like crazy. That was a good one, and is so true, ha ha.
John Denver
October 5th, 2010
2:21 pm
So we schedule these “national” games like Colorado and don’t even bring the new UGA or the full band? What the hell is wrong with our athletic department? Who the hell cares about homecoming? That game is always a joke.
Lilburn Dawg
October 5th, 2010
2:24 pm
Russ, just to let you know that I, for one, don’t blame any of this bad season on you. I hope you don’t leave with any hard feelings. But if you feel like biting any of the UGA coaches as you leave…….feel free!
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 5th, 2010
2:25 pm
A little dog can only do so much. I tried. I tried really hard. I was into my game and we were winning and then they pull the a$$ painting scheme out of nowhere. This new Uga better have a pure, white a$$ and he’d better have a good heart and some walking around sense. Why do they take me out during the Vandy game? Whose idea was that? What am I to do now? Who will hire a little painted a$$ dog? When the new inbred Uga runs into the wall and foams at the mouth and drops dead will they call me back? Will it be, “Russ, all is forgiven. We need you back.” ??? I can see that my fondness for beer has contributed to my demise but the coeds like to get me a little tipsy after the game and we sometimes trade sweaters. That’s the kind of bulldog I am and that’s the kind of bulldog this university deserves. Soon, you will have a bulldog no smarter than a typical incoming freshman. Sad.
Russ the wrong race dog
October 5th, 2010
2:27 pm
Y’all know I am being fired because of the color of my fur. Why, in this day and age, is it necessary for the mascot to be WHITE?
godawgs!!
October 5th, 2010
2:27 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/alcohol-sales-through-the-rough-in-the-state-of-georgia/ this is a very interesting article about last saturdays game against colorado
bulldog bubba
October 5th, 2010
2:28 pm
G8tr H8tr- you are a smart person.Why do all these other bloggers think we can go out and find a”better” coach.Ain’t gonna happen.As with the Dooley years we will get better.Those other schools in the limelight are just an NCAA investigation away from disaster.GO DAWGS!!!
Russ, the Temporary Mascot
October 5th, 2010
2:33 pm
I am mad and I am not going to take it anymore. Coach Richt should have stepped in on my behalf and made it clear we all have to stick together. Call me the sacrificial bulldog. Dropping Russ is like dropping the ball in the end zone and then watching while a Mississippi State player comes running in and drops on the ball for a touchback. I was barking my head off trying to get Washaun to fall on that ball. Will the new Uga do that? Will any of the coaches? This has been a big disappointment for me and I am going to miss all my good friends on the blogs. I am so ashamed. I wanted to do better. Henceforth, I will be known as the Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ.
keith
October 5th, 2010
2:34 pm
can’t hurt
Russ the wrong race dog
October 5th, 2010
2:35 pm
bulldog bubba, if you aspire to the days of Dooley maybe you need to set your sights a bit higher.
Hate to break it to you, but Dooley was about as pathetic as the current clown on the sidelines. One NC in those years and that was with a player that could have taken any team to a NC.
He was sub-standard as a coach and less than that as an AD.
MtnDawg
October 5th, 2010
2:36 pm
As long as he gets in the lineup by the Auburn game!
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:38 pm
There is no Russ anymore. The bulldog you will see on the sideline this Saturday will have a broken heart. No longer am I worthy of the name Russ. If the team’s failure has anything to do with me and my less than pristine white a$$ . . . well, let me leave with dignity. Let me walk off the field with honor. Don’t make me hand over my sweater to a fat, listless, inbred slob of a mascot. Mascots know who is smart and who isn’t. Ralphie and I talked about this very thing just last week. Uga is dumbing down in the mascot department.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
2:39 pm
Russ
You can’t leave the Blogs! You need to keep doing the comedy for sure.
BoozerDawg
October 5th, 2010
2:40 pm
I’m sure Russ is more than ready to get his sore butt out of that dump. After getting his butt painted and having to watch that sorry excuse of an SEC team get their butts kicked every week. Also watching the three stooges of a coaching staff stand on the sidelines looking stupid like they are baby chicks that just hatched and stuck their heads out of their egg shells and not knowing what to do next. Russ is most likely looking foreward to going home and getting away from all those losers and doing a little stud service, at least then someone elses butt will be sore besides his.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:41 pm
I could write this blog. I could fill in for Tim at anytime. Why am I not good enough to be the permanent mascot? My life expectancy has to be better than the inbreds they are preparing now. Soon, they will have 3 ears. Will you fans tolerate that?
Bullocks
October 5th, 2010
2:42 pm
TM that was Russ:
You have academic eligibility remaining. You might try transferring to Mississippi State or Yale.
You might have to lie out a year though.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:43 pm
Yeah, put a 3-eared white a$$ed mascot out there for all to see. I heard he is already losing his teeth. I heard he breaks wind when he barks. I heard they like him because he can go off a diving board. This program has become very shallow. Shallow indeed.
Gay Dawg
October 5th, 2010
2:45 pm
I cannot wait for our true UGA! Woohoo!!!
UGA IX
October 5th, 2010
2:45 pm
Yeah, but when will he die of heart complications (vs. Kentucky or vs. GT)? I want to know when it will be my time to shine.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
2:45 pm
Russ I am sure TECH will hire you for home games. All you have to do is run infront of the Ramblin Wrech like he is trying to run you over. Tech will never run you over really. And unlike popular belief you can sit with Pretty girls in the stands during the game. Yes, Tech does have pretty girls.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:47 pm
Well, we’ll see if he even shows up at the Vandy game. Could be in jail. Might be suspended by then. Could be involved in doing some public service work on campus. Little mascots should have character. They should be well behaved and obey the law and BE PROUD TO WEAR THE SWEATER. I did my best. I really did.
Skitty Fritty
October 5th, 2010
2:50 pm
Our problem has been the fake UGA. We won’t lose another game after UGA VIII takes control!
Jeff
October 5th, 2010
2:53 pm
Good….maybe the new UGA will bite some of these players and get their attention…the coaches cant
bjohndawg
October 5th, 2010
2:55 pm
We had to move Russ’s ass out of there. 3-4 just does not cut it.
But we should move Russ up to OC.
He can call a better game then Mike ( Bilbo Baggans) Bobo.
In South Georgia I think Bobo is a nickname for someones backside.
So the new term will be ” That is some Bobo play calling.”
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:56 pm
Well, Coach Grantham is getting us one at a time . . . I never should have said he is overpaid. Of course, even a little dog can coach up a defense that gives up 29 points to Colorado. How about that South Carolina freshman running back? Did he run up the middle a few times? I could defense that. Well, I must go pack.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
2:59 pm
FOR SALE: Game used bowl. Game used sweater. Game used Krylon can. Contact The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ. If no answer, call AJ
bjohndawg
October 5th, 2010
2:59 pm
I think we can win our the rest of our games, win the SEC east as both Florida will lose 3 and South Carolina will lose 4 SEC games, beat Bama in the SEC championship game, and go to the national championship and beat Boise State as the first 3 lose BCS champion.
And it will be due to our new UGA VIII. Finally a real mascot instead of that imposter with the painted butt.
tmz
October 5th, 2010
2:59 pm
Russ, when you die are they going to bury you alongside the other UGA’s or do you just get dumped in a creek or landfield somewhere?
ugabulldog
October 5th, 2010
3:02 pm
Fla. dawg, I think you are reffering to the breed olde english bulldog,….
Richard Dawson
October 5th, 2010
3:03 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT.
MJ
October 5th, 2010
3:05 pm
I hope he can tackle b/c god knows the current players can’t. Heck, maybe the new Uga can accept a handoff and run and not fumble the ball w/ the game on the line.
Bambino
October 5th, 2010
3:08 pm
UGA 2010 –
The Year “THE CURSE OF THE RED PANTIES” Begins for UGA.
In case this curse runs for 86 years or more like the one in Boston (where Damon Evans now lives, incidentally) did, maybe you Georgia fans should go burn down all the Victoria’s Secret stores in Athens.
Hmmmmm…
Actually, considering Courtney Fuhrmann and the silhouette of the “Typical” female UGA fan, maybe you folks should go burn down all the LANE BRYANT stores in Athens instead.
Blackberry Cobbler
October 5th, 2010
3:08 pm
Suit him up!!!
This team needs more size, tenacity, and balls.
tmz
October 5th, 2010
3:11 pm
Russ, maybe someone will want you after you are dead so you wont end up in a creek or ditch. You know how people around here like to stuff dead animals or mount their heads and put them on their den wall in their trailers. I can picture your mounted, stuffed butt on their wall now next to a deer head and a fish. You will be the celeb of the trailer park and the trailer owner can charge admission to see you.
bjohndawg
October 5th, 2010
3:12 pm
I heard Russ has played a number of roles, not just interim mascot.
Was Russ the stunt BullDog in the movie ” Van Wilder”?
MJ
October 5th, 2010
3:12 pm
Unbelievable! We are pinning our turn around on a dog. We are pathetic!
Susan
October 5th, 2010
3:13 pm
Welcome to the team!! Thank you Russ for you service! New DAWG, New future!
Susan
October 5th, 2010
3:14 pm
TMZ….We only stuff things of value and love!! Sorry, but you will be the one bloated and in a creek.