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
Wednesday Morning Mullet Wrapper « Jean Shorts Torture
October 6th, 2010
9:18 am
[...] may just be the root of their problem. Russ has brown spots and is 1-4 this year. The true heir, UGA VIII, debuts this week. Russ has brown spots. UGA VIII, like the VII others before him, is all white. Steve Addazio is [...]
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 6th, 2010
9:22 am
I did all a little dog can do. I was there for every game. I stuck it out. I suffered a$$ paintings. No one in administration ever apologized. If I have to have my a$$ painted shouldn’t Coach Richt have some Hair in a Can sprayed on his bald spot? Fair is fair. Coach is losing his hair. They don’t want me there. New Uga is shaped like a pear. I don’t care.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 6th, 2010
9:25 am
Who is Tim Tucker and does he read his own blog? I hope he will stop by my house on Saturday and introduce himself. I have several copies of the AJC in my house and my only complaint is that they are too narrow to cover much of the floor. Will the AJC be going back to wider paper soon? I am just a little dog and soon to be out of work. Are there openings at the AJC?
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 6th, 2010
9:28 am
I got a memo. Coach wants us to do a team dive to build unity. Some people say the team took a dive last Saturday. Anyway, I am getting into my swim trunks as we speak. I hope these guys know enough not to pee in the pool. I am leaving my watch in my room . . . just in case.
Russ
October 6th, 2010
9:29 am
One would think that with all the cheating, recruiting of thug wannabes and morons, and a saintly coach who’s making $4 million a year, that the dawgturds could manage something better. So let’s summarize the current situation:
0 SEC wins
1 AD forced to resign in shame and 1 pair of red panties
1 win overall
4 losses
0-3 SEC record
10 arrests
But there is one bit of good news – you have a lock on the Fulmer/Richt Cup! :-)
Dumbo
October 6th, 2010
10:02 am
Look it’s time to change everything at UGA starting with Richt leaving, a new radio team (Zeier is the worst) and burning the weird uniforms (all black, almost as bad as Clemson all purple). We gave UGA VII a heart attack because of the sorry state of athletics, please, lets don’t kill another of Sonny’s pups because the football program is so horrible that he can’t stand to witness the total demise of the program.
Please for UGA VIII sake!!!!!!!
DAWG
October 6th, 2010
10:07 am
Go another direction, Pit Bull!
Dumbo
October 6th, 2010
10:10 am
Techies…why are ya’ll so infatuated with Panties in Athens? Could it be because all the women are so ugly at TYech, and all you’ve ever seen are women wearing boxers, right! Yikes…no wonder Techies pound sand with hand!
Another Reason
October 6th, 2010
10:25 am
Just an other sign that this program is a joke. Twelve percent of your team has been arested, your coaches are horrible and the big story is a new mascot!
LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Papadawg
October 6th, 2010
10:29 am
What position can he play? We need football players more than we need a new mascot
Savannah, GA
October 6th, 2010
10:29 am
`
Russ will be a much happier dawg being away from a losing atmosphere.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 6th, 2010
10:41 am
So it’s my fault, is it? Well, they better rethink this. Bringing in a fat dog is not going to do anything. Sure, he may have a white a$$ . . . but who knows for sure anymore. We know they paint their mascots. Most of the cheerleaders have had some work, too. Coach Richt is losing his hair and Coach Grantham was a mess when we got him. A new mascot is not the answer.
Let the Big Dawg Eat
October 6th, 2010
11:03 am
Just let the big dawg eat. That’s all I have to say. Thank you.
Still@theBAR
October 6th, 2010
11:09 am
It looks like EATING is all the Ugas do.
JB
October 6th, 2010
11:09 am
Need more than a new Mascot.
crossdawg
October 6th, 2010
11:31 am
I hope the new DAWG helps. At least he won’t get arrested or sell his jersey.
Why is adams part of the ceremony? I’m sure he would rather be in Zimbabwe or Iran trying to recruit more international students.
dawgfan
October 6th, 2010
11:39 am
I wonder if he can play safety or corner?
Ralph McGill
October 6th, 2010
11:54 am
UGA VIII – Vanderbilt 21
Uga VIII to Turn Georgia's Season Around! (Or, Just Sit There.) | I Just Want to Fit In
October 6th, 2010
1:15 pm
[...] end, becasue the true heir to the Uga name is set to make his debut. Dole out the word Snausages, Atlanta Journal Constitution: Help is on the way for Georgia’s beleaguered football [...]
Dawg Trainer
October 6th, 2010
3:10 pm
Smokey is sorely disappointed. He wanted to show Uga VIII who the real big dog is. Nothing personal against Russ. Russ can always be the backup mascot for The Citadel. Or, even help out some high school kids in Charleston, SC that’s having a tough season. We’ll be glad to introduce Russ as the NEW Burke High School Bulldog!
Smokey the Blue Tick Hound
October 6th, 2010
6:10 pm
Hey Russ! Since the Vol game is your last one, maybe you and I can go have some fun after the game. You can show me your favorite fire hydrants and we can look for some hot b*%$ches to sniff out. And I do mean real dogs, not the coeds.
Dawg Turd
October 6th, 2010
6:48 pm
I understand the NCAA is investigating a report Russ sold his collar on e-bay last week. Reached at the Clarke County Animal Shelter where he is being held on a public indecency charge (Peeing on a police car).
Will this arrest count in the race for the Fulmer/Richt Cup?
Never mind, the dawgturds already have a lock on the cup.
Bill
October 6th, 2010
9:58 pm
Someone please keep a close eye on UGA VIII before the next game and don’t let him consume any alcohol, handle any firearms, or copy anyone else’s shool work…….My heart is heavy enough for the three that got caught lately….Smile…….Looking at the penalties they received, I’d said it could happen again……….The brain is a terrible thing to waste, but Talent is too…..and I see a lot of it being wasted.
Bill
October 6th, 2010
10:00 pm
School is spelled SCHOOL……..I knew that
Week 6 – Tennessee Volunteers « Year of the Dawg
October 8th, 2010
3:32 pm
[...] final note about the festivities. With the announcement that a new Uga will be unleashed against Vanderbilt next week, tomorrow will mark the last game for [...]
Joe
October 10th, 2010
12:48 am
“Yall better understand what you have and that you are not a national powerhouse that can win it every year…..it has been over 30 since your last championship.”
Oh God, shut up. How many football programs win a national title every year? How many are even competing for one every year? Absolutely none! That’s how many. LSU went 45 years before they won another in 2003 you delusional idiot. Florida went a hundred years before they won one.
Marie
October 10th, 2010
11:07 pm
You people bitch about anything/everything! GO DAWGS!!!!!
Boca Baby
October 10th, 2010
11:55 pm
I liked his father. He would lung at and attempt to bite people. And his record was not bad at all. I hope VIII will be just as feisty.
robert
October 11th, 2010
4:30 am
I have a male English Bulldog, 3 years old, big head. Likes to tackle people. Brindle not white. Not from UGA line. Looking for a weekend job. (UGA pay attention)
GaDawg
October 11th, 2010
2:45 pm
Why, oh WHY, did they have to go and refurbish our ole antique chapel bell??????