‘In Russ they trust:’ Uga IX is inaugurated at Sanford Stadium
UGA President Michael Adams "collars" Russ the bulldog, officially inaugurating the dog as Uga IX shortly before Saturday night's kickoff against Florida Atlantic. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Everybody loves Russ it seems, even Mark Richt. On the eve of Russ’ inauguration as an official Uga mascot – “collaring” it’s called in these parts – the Bulldogs’ head coach talked about how Russ exemplifies a football player who has been overlooked but just did his job to the best of his ability and finally got a break.
“You know what, the guy, he could have gotten bitter,” Richt said with a laugh this week. “Everybody was saying that he couldn’t get it done. It was a little bit like Kwame Geathers hearing about John Jenkins so much. He didn’t like it, so he bowed his neck and won the job. I’m proud of him.”
Russ, an 8-year-old half-brother of Uga VII, has served as interim mascot for 25 games over four seasons when Ugas VII and VIII died. He’ll be sworn in as the official Uga in a ceremony before tonight’s 7:30 p.m. game against Florida Atlantic.
Russ has brown patches on his fur, so doesn’t meet the pure-white requirement traditionally needed to be the mascot. But after filling in and representing Georgia in all 14 games last season and two this one, the Sonny Seiler family decided to reward Russ for his loyalty.
That will satisfy a growing number of Georgia fans, who had started a grassroots effort to make Russ the permanent mascot. “In Russ we trust,” was their mantra.
“People have bought into Russ,” UGA president Michael Adams said at Friday’s meeting of the UGA Athletic Board. “I think this has been a well-received decision, and the notion that he earned it has really resonated.”
Adams noted that the interim mascot’s promotion to Uga IV has been the talk of the town.
“I’ve even heard people on the street say, ‘Go Russ,’” he said. “I think it has hit a chord, the decision that was made to go ahead and make him official.”
Uga IX entered Saturday night’s game with a 16-9 record.
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178 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
8:59 pm
They dam sure ain’t playing in this one
Go Jackets!
September 15th, 2012
8:59 pm
Florida is down, Tenn is down, Shaw is injury prone….u guys gotta get it THIS year.
Dawgs1965
September 15th, 2012
9:00 pm
Hey, at least we’re 4 for 4 on extra points!
I've been working on the RR
September 15th, 2012
9:06 pm
Just got here…., where is Jarvis Jones tonight?
Bali
September 15th, 2012
9:06 pm
I’m pretty impressed with Vasser…when I saw his weight comin in, I was a little leary. He seems to have the drive….and Shaun Williams is freakin PI$$ED at his compadre’s. He’s definitely a man on fire.
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
9:08 pm
Same as last week. Lots of SO CALLED UGA FANS TRASHING THE DAWGS. It’s 28 to 14, and we will finish strong. Last week , the “haters” had their way on the blog, but THEY WERE ALL GONE BY THE 4th QUARTER! Pitiful fans…
DeadRednecks
September 15th, 2012
9:10 pm
+1
dbc
September 15th, 2012
9:12 pm
Stating facts and wondering how your supposed top 5 D can play so flat and uninspired isn’t trashing, it’s reality.
I've been working on the RR
September 15th, 2012
9:13 pm
For all the kudos that the D has gotten…, and all the hype…., they sure look uninspired tonight. Where is JJ?
DeadRednecks
September 15th, 2012
9:14 pm
In jail.
buick59
September 15th, 2012
9:15 pm
not just UGA….LSU 21 Idaho 14……
buick59
September 15th, 2012
9:15 pm
Tennessee is AWFUL!!!!
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
9:20 pm
QUEENDADDY cool out with your pro-RICHT, everybody’s a hater moronic rants. UF is going to whip the Dogs in Jville this year. Go roll up a fat one,Queerdaddy, relax and watch UF finish off the Vols. UGA-FAU is another boring exhibition of overrated Athens football.
Big Crimson 75
September 15th, 2012
9:23 pm
King — I respect you bro. Always have.
You’re a REAL supporter of your team.
Where’s everyone else?
Like I said after the Buff game, no one trashes UGA better than their own fans.
glennb
September 15th, 2012
9:24 pm
what is the online link to watch the game? Thx, Go Dawgs..
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
9:25 pm
You idiots want to criticize everything this team does. Worst fans in the SEC. Wait until the end of the 4th quarter before you morons jump off your trailers. With fans like this, who needs trolls…
DeadRednecks
September 15th, 2012
9:27 pm
Ditto
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
9:28 pm
Top Dog
tech troll, not a dog. What a wuss…
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:29 pm
kingdaddy, you’ve always struck me as a DGD but, you can blow it out your azz. The defense has been lethargic and if you think it’s “okay” then fine but, don’t think anyone else is less of a DGD than you for mentioning it
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
9:30 pm
75
What’s up bro? Good game today. That’s the way we should play, but it hasn’t happened yet. Hate the “wishy-washey “fans and the nerd-trolls like topper…
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:31 pm
glennb
it’s on espn3.com
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
9:34 pm
Gators have over 300 yards rushing on the Vols. UF up by 17 now. Has a Richt offense ever ran for that many yards. UF has 526 total offensive yards and the hard hitting Vols D is out of gas. Think Richt and Bobo have guts to pound the Vols on the ground like UF ? Of course not . They will keep passing with Murray and give Gurley 7 carries and lose to both Tennessee and Florida.
eddie willers
September 15th, 2012
9:38 pm
I’ll accept two touchdowns per quarter.
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
9:38 pm
ARdawg
Same as last week. All the haters left late. I want UGA to blank the Owls too, but I’m not going to bash my team. Go ahead if it makes you feel better. I have known you as a good fan, so go ahead, bash away…
Bali
September 15th, 2012
9:39 pm
Top Frog….fck yourself…sypllatic inbred of a mongolian jug fckr
Zeb
September 15th, 2012
9:40 pm
Wilbert’s got an arm, you can’t deny that
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:46 pm
kingdaddy,
I’m not a basher and apparently you are not recognizing all of the trolls. A fan isn’t going to bash but a good fan isn’t going to accept the excuse of rain when their getting p’d on either, knowwhadda mean?
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:51 pm
kingdaddy
I mean you no harm or insult. We’re all here to discuss the Dawgs and the game (the fans anyway). My personality flaw is calling them like I see them. The corn holed crippled sisters of the poor at this pace will have a 500 yard game on the UGA defense. I don’t see this as encouraging and I won’t encourage it
WDE
September 15th, 2012
9:52 pm
well I just got home from going out to dinner and the last two times we have had the ball we look pretty good..
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
9:53 pm
WE DON’T TRASH GEORGIA WHEN WE COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW FINESSE AND SOFT WE’VE BECOME WITH ACC/FSU HAS-BEEN MARK RICHT AS HC. WE LOVE UGA BUT HATE THE DIRECTION IT’S GOING. WE WILL NEVER WIN A BCS TITLE WITH MARK RICHT NO MATTER HOW MANY MORE SHALLOW OR HOLLOW VICTORIES HE TRIPS ACROSS. DELUSIONAL HOMERS LIKE KINGDADDY, DAWG IN LEX, COLUMBUS, BRAINIAC THE MANIAC, AND CHAZZO ARE RICHT SYMPATHIZERS AND CHEERLEADERS WHO HAVE A PET DOG-LIKE AFFECTION FOR THEIR MASTER, MARK RICHT. THEY LOVE RICHT NOT THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA. THEY ARE IRRELEVANT, MINDLESS AND BLIND. THEY ONLY SEE WRONG WHEN ANYONE CALLS OUT THE UGA COACHING STAFF. THEY HAVE PROVED THEMSELVES TO BE IDIOTS COUNTLESS TIMES AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
,
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:56 pm
WDE
The offense has taken care of business. If this were next week and Vandy, we’d be behind at this point
WDE
September 15th, 2012
9:56 pm
@Top Dog add me to your list and STFU and crawl back under your rock…
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
9:57 pm
TOP DOG= TROLL
WDE
September 15th, 2012
9:58 pm
@ARdawg thanks it looks like our D plays better the 2nd half starting this season..
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
10:01 pm
RICHT PISSES ON KINGDADDY ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT WHAT DOES THAT FOOL KINGDADDY DO ? TRY TO CONVINCE US THE PISS IS FRESH RAIN. LOL . HE IS NOTHING BUT A MINDLESS IDIOTIC BLABBERMOUTH, WHO HAS LONG LOST ANY CREDIBILITY, BUT REFUSES JUST TO SHUT HIS DAMNED MOUTH.
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
10:02 pm
ARdawg
I am the rock. CTG made an adjustment. No matter what, call them like you see them, just remember constructive criticism is good and warranted in proper moderation. Trolls feed on fans panic and emotion. I’m just trying to calm the faithful. Go Dawgs…
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
10:03 pm
WDE
In defense of the defense, there has been a lot of substitution. I think FAU had about 250 yards in the first half
ARdawg
September 15th, 2012
10:05 pm
kingdaddy, I know but, your calling out earlier struck me as quite broad. I’ve no love for trolls but let’s keep the hate focused
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
TRUTH HURTS DON’T IT WDE. YOU’RE SO DAMNED DUMB YOU DON’T MAKE THE DELUSIONALLY DUMB, MENTALLY CHALLENGED LIST. GO HAVE YOURSELF ANOTHER CUP OF PISS-FLAVORED KOOL-AID. YOU JERK-O_ F!
WDE
September 15th, 2012
10:07 pm
Where is JJ tonight?
WDE
September 15th, 2012
10:09 pm
@Top Dog we are done little boy keep typing tough guy…but my team will end the game 3-0 and that troll boy is what matters…and that little fella is the truth..dismissed
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
10:10 pm
Topper
We all know you are FOS so STFU! I love being at the top of your hit-list. I must be doing something right, lol..what a loser. How about this nerdboy, 49-14? What’s UGAs Defense doing now? LMAOFF…
Dawg Haus
September 15th, 2012
10:12 pm
Good to see the D is locking it down, but that first half was scary. They can’t let Zac Stacey get off to a hot start next week. He’s a good player and will take advantage.
Dawg Haus
September 15th, 2012
10:16 pm
WDE, Jarvis got the night off because of a lingering groin issue. Hope he’s back to 100% for SEC play next week!
Top Dog
September 15th, 2012
10:16 pm
WAY TO GO OLE MISS. REPRESENT YOUR CONFERENCE AND EXPOSE ANOTHER HAS-BEEN, MACK BROWN. THE BLACK BEARS WON’T LAY DOWN TO LONGHORNS. GO SEC.
WDE
September 15th, 2012
10:18 pm
Booooooooooo!
Dawgs1965
September 15th, 2012
10:18 pm
Nice run from Malcome.
kingdaddy
September 15th, 2012
10:18 pm
ARdawg
we always good bro. I understand when I questioned the fans comments, that I was just putting the brakes on early panic. Just like last week, we settled down and took care of business. We are also staying vanilla so as not to show blitz packages and other schemes. Richt is saving stuff for Franklin, Dooley & lil stevie. You and me are good and I did “smoke-out” top dogg. Just doing what I was meant to do…
Dawgs1965
September 15th, 2012
10:20 pm
Still perfect on extra points tonight!
WDE
September 15th, 2012
10:20 pm
@Dawg Haus thanks and your right we will need him vs Vandy next week…