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.
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230 comments Add your comment
Toole
October 5th, 2010
3:16 pm
It’s about time. Russ has been the worst mascot ever. I blame him and not CMR for our poor season.
Lowcountry Dawg
October 5th, 2010
3:16 pm
Maybe VIII can coach up our players!
tmz
October 5th, 2010
3:17 pm
Susan, go look in a mirror and you will see what bloated really looks like. By the way, shove another KK doughnut in your mouth.
Barry Saggitarius
October 5th, 2010
3:20 pm
You can stay with me Russ, I used to have a brown a$$ed english bulldog. He wore a path around the house from where he walked, and would let our cat ride on his back.
chazzo
October 5th, 2010
3:26 pm
KEEP RUSS!!!!
Red
October 5th, 2010
3:26 pm
I’m afraid that if UGA continous on a downward spiral, Uga VIII will have a massive heart attack.
I’m afraid that if UGA continous on a downward spiral, Uga VIII will have a massive heart attack.
Red
October 5th, 2010
3:27 pm
continues
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
3:32 pm
I am feeling the love. I don’t want to go. Nobody knows this new dog. For all we know, he is too stupid to do any of the cheers. I will be a very animated little dog this weekend. The new dog is going to have to step up to beat me. I fear he may have a stroke or a heart attack when he exerts himself. Imagine the embarrassment of a dead dog on the sideline. Talk about a bummer.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
3:32 pm
Russ is built FORD TOUGH. He takes a beating and still gets back up and gives it his all.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
3:33 pm
Russ I think there are a lot of dead dawgs on the sidelines. They are all wearing #’s.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
3:36 pm
One day soon, they will quietly drape Uga’s little house because Uga has had a heart attack at the game in front of a big crowd! Imagine the embarrassment! Imagine having to take that dog out of the house and off the field with his legs stuck straight up in the air in rigor mortis. You know the other team will get some pictures. You know they will show up on the internet. Oh, what a mess! I will stay on for the balance of the season but you must speak up and give me your support.
Brian
October 5th, 2010
3:47 pm
This Saturday Mark leads the team and Uga VIII onto the field. Then the troubles are over.
reebok
October 5th, 2010
3:50 pm
i hope Uga VIII has a long and healthy life.
baddog99
October 5th, 2010
3:52 pm
Having Uga VIII on the sideline should break the losing streak our team is on! Russ just didn’t help us win many games!
MS Bully
October 5th, 2010
3:52 pm
Go UGA, Bully will be down in Athens next year to meet you.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 5th, 2010
3:56 pm
Bullocks, the 2:42 post was hilarious!
Gainesville Dawg
October 5th, 2010
3:57 pm
Can’t anyone be excited??? Let’s cheer for our new mascot UGA VIII!.
Oh, I forgot. This is the site for all those fans of other teams who flock to the UGA column.
Come on! Go, Dawgs!!!
TXDawg (The Real TXDawg)
October 5th, 2010
3:59 pm
If we all of a sudden start winning games, I’m buying the first white English Bulldog that I can find. I need some luck too!
KimZ'sPackage
October 5th, 2010
4:03 pm
reebok
Long for UGA VIII will be 6-8 years.
RICHT is an UGA killer.
Richt has had UGA VI, UGA VII, Russ, and now UGA VIII.
Richt has been at UGA for 10 years and he is on his 4th Uga? Hell, he kills dawgs almost as good as Mike Vick.
Russ count your lucky stars you get to the Athens Alive.
Gay Dawg
October 5th, 2010
4:05 pm
Dear Mark Richt,
Most of us Dawgs think you are awesome. Please let your boss know that a large contingent will not be happy if you leave. We have better things to do on a Saturday night if you leave!
Gay Dawg
Nacho Daddy
October 5th, 2010
4:25 pm
CMR, if you leave the Toucan Tan will go under.
Yea Right
October 5th, 2010
4:29 pm
First AJ Greene was going to save the season, now a new UGA is going to save it??? Maybe the following week a new cheerleader will save it or perhaps a new trombone player in the band?
Louigi
October 5th, 2010
4:41 pm
I can see it now. UGA VIII crowned during pregame ceremony. 13 people there to witness it.
Run, ealey, Run
October 5th, 2010
4:42 pm
Blame all the loses on fuga.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
4:46 pm
This is a real question for a person in the know.
I know all the Uga’s have Uga 1’s bloodlone. He is the daddy to start. Do later Ugas come from Brother and Sisters from Uga 1? Did Uga II mate with a sister to form Uga III? Do males from Uga I mate with females out of the Uga bloodline?
Tech Fan
October 5th, 2010
4:47 pm
Adorable dog!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
4:51 pm
One more real question
Is that a real Uga in the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
Disgusted Dawg
October 5th, 2010
4:52 pm
So when do we get the permanant replacement for Richt the temporary coach?
bugsquacher
October 5th, 2010
5:06 pm
Put him on the offensive line…….
Russ
October 5th, 2010
5:06 pm
RUFF RUFF RUFFF WOOF WOOF WOOFFFFF UGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA SUCKKKKSS WOOF WOOF WOOF
Billy Jack....
October 5th, 2010
5:16 pm
@ Disgusted Dawg…now that was funny…it won’t be this year he can stink up the joint this year…but not next yr
Disbelief
October 5th, 2010
5:21 pm
Are you people who post on this blog real people who actually hold down jobs and have families? Children? What an example you set!
80sDawg
October 5th, 2010
5:36 pm
Someone should call PETA and let them know UGA VIII is about to be subjected to some cruel and unusual punishment!
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
5:38 pm
Disbelief
No we are fake people and OBAMA is picking up the check for all the other stuff.
Still@theBAR
October 5th, 2010
5:40 pm
It is time to hire Herschel Walker as our coach because this team has almost as many personalities as Walker does.
DawgFan
October 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
WISH HE WAS DEBUTING SATURDAY AND GIVE ‘OL SMOKEY HELL !!! HUNKER DOWN DAWGS AND LET’S GET ON A LONG WINNING STREAK !!! GLORY GLORY TO OLE GEORGIA !!!!!!!
fl dawg
October 5th, 2010
5:47 pm
Nobody cares….what a stupid story. The dawgs stink and bringing a new bulldog to the mix adds insult to injury. This does nothing to help the dawg nation.
Grammer
October 5th, 2010
5:58 pm
Keep Russ, drop Ealey and King. Russ has superior ball control.
The Commodor
October 5th, 2010
5:59 pm
Can that lil doggie SWIM? We are going to make him walk the plank. I hope there is a UGA IX ready or the Russ will be back for the @ Kentucky beat down.
The Commodor
October 5th, 2010
6:01 pm
But Russ uses his tongue for the ball control and they have to paint his butt.
TTOUGH44
October 5th, 2010
6:01 pm
Hey Hurry up UGAVIII….thats the whole prob….(nothing against our interim mascot…however, he is not the real UGA!!!!!!!) thats why we have not been getting our good karma!!!
Gerry
October 5th, 2010
6:07 pm
Georgia’s atrocious 2010 Offense or even a dead, maggot-riddled UGA still looks better than Moo-Chelle Obama.
82Dawg
October 5th, 2010
6:11 pm
Will UGAVII bring the real football team with him? Russ you can take the current team with you.
Still@theBAR
October 5th, 2010
6:19 pm
The Falcon Cheerleaders just put out their swimsuit calendar. RUSS you need to do a RED PANTY CALENDAR. You show the unLoyal UGA fans that you can play the same game. You worked hard in you Win @ Tech, in the Shereveport Bowl Game, and La Laf. game. You didn’t stop trying in the losses. The players let you down. You didn’t get arrested, but 10 players did. Urinate on Uga VIII when he takes your job. Obama is making it hard to find a job and UGA is just going to put you out like that.
hot err
October 5th, 2010
6:29 pm
Can’t this wait till next year? Why bring in the new Uga under the cloud of disgrace that is the 2010 football season?? Let him start fresh with a clean slate in 2011.
Sanjeev
October 5th, 2010
6:33 pm
most english bulldogs have weight and heart issues. it is in their genes to be fat and lazy.
A Different Jim
October 5th, 2010
6:35 pm
Please . . . .
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
6:40 pm
A little dog can only do so much. Now, you bring in an inbred white a$$ed dog to take my place. I haven’t met him yet but the rumor is that he will wear a cap to cover that third ear he got from the inbreeding. Meanwhile, Coach Grantham is slowly getting a lot of us fired and replaced with others more to his own liking. And this “big” bulldog . . . just how big is he? Is he doughnut big like Grantham?
russ Dangerfield
October 5th, 2010
6:43 pm
I’m telling you, I don’t get no respect
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 5th, 2010
6:43 pm
Some programs seem to run themselves – and some programs seem to hardly run at all. Imagine a major college team with a mascot controversy this early in the year. Why a controversy? Dead mascots cannot do the things live ones can. This dog is going to be a lot like Trigger . . . he’s going to be stuffed when they need him the most. The ticker is not going to be able to stand the crowd noise and the disappointment.