‘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
WDE
September 16th, 2012
12:01 am
If you can’t get behind this UGA team you have NEVER been behind a UGA team..we have promise and we have talent what we need now is support…3-0 and counting
dbc
September 16th, 2012
12:05 am
I actually like Richt. Other than being a good man, he pulled UGA back into relevancy from the days when I went to school. If this team can ever put together a game where the O, D and special teams all hit like they should, they’ll be right there with Bama. Thanks for the words, King. I admit I was on here last week bad-mouthing Murray, and then just as the game was getting better, my power went off for about three hours. Which means the router went out, so no internet. All I had was my phone. I couldn’t believe how quickly the game turned around. To this day, I still haven’t seen the entire game. Was recording it, but that was scrubbed. I do stupid stuff during games like change my shirt if the Dawgs are doing poorly. My 11 year old thinks I’m nuts. And funny thing, we just moved into a new house here in Scottsdale — my son plays Pop Warner and my neighbor across the street is both the coach, and a Gators fan. I just can’t win…
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
12:07 am
WDE
Some fans took me wrong early, but settled down later. I just don’t panic easily and as you said, this team will win and need our support from kickoff to the last play. They will get that from me, but I will state obvious flaws. I just give them time to “fix-it” before I disown them, lol…
Tampa Gator
September 16th, 2012
12:09 am
NGD
August 15th, 2012
4:17 pm
jdog247: Who’s UF’s starting QB again?
@NGD…….
That would be…….the 3-0………Jeff Driskell.
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
12:12 am
dbc
that is funny. You two guys will probably end up as best friends, lol. I have lots of non-UGA buds. You think you got it bad, my girlfriend is a Ohio State fan. Geez…
Eldawg
September 16th, 2012
12:12 am
That is a picture of UGA VII
Tampa Gator
September 16th, 2012
12:18 am
Bud
August 18th, 2012
12:11 pm
Florida has tough schedule with 4 top 10 teams, weak at QB, RB, WR, and have a new 1st Year Off Coor. Just nothing on offense.
@Bud……
that QB – is Jeff Driskell (future NFL first round pick)
those RBs – Mike GIllislee….leads the SEC in rushing…..and Trey Burton
those WRs – Jordan Reed, Quinton Dunbar, and Chris Hammond
and….that rookie OC…..called plays for over 500 yards of total offense vs. the Vols today.
and….I guess they have enough offense to score 37 on the Vols today.
and…..by the way…..Texas A&M crushed SMU today….holding them to 3 points last time I checked.
aladawg
September 16th, 2012
12:19 am
Yep, the dawgs defense sucks really bad and I had to listen to Scott Howard on my radio man what a dull ass.
Tdawg
September 16th, 2012
12:20 am
Wow, this defense has not improved one iona from last seasons over rated bunch. The D-Line is this years version of last season’s O-Line. All three teams that UGA has played this season has completely man handled this D-Line and outside of Jones the linebackers hasn’t been much better. Dawgs better get use to winning games in shoot out fashion, cause I don’t see that pathetic defense stopping anybody.
Tampa Gator
September 16th, 2012
12:22 am
………..Gators are not there yet…….but they are obviously a lot better than the 35 “Gators are in ruins” quotes I saved from Georgia fans this summer.
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
12:24 am
Good game Tamp. J-ville shaping up to be a really good one. Hate it when we have to beatup on each other. Want the SECto dominate outside conference.
WDE
September 16th, 2012
12:42 am
@kingdaddy never thought you have blasted the team , we all see room for improvement and this year we seem to be improving we face a tougher road I think than the Experts said, UF for sure is much improved we have a long road and the team will need our support…I know you will.
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
1:05 am
WDE
Thanks Dawg…I concur, the East is better than originally thought. Look at Arkansas and Auburn…
I dropped my fried twinkie
September 16th, 2012
2:42 am
WAIT………….I …………..Can’t……………Be…………..Uga IX…………..NOBODY painted my butt for the game.
I dropped my fried twinkie
September 16th, 2012
2:43 am
There are 8 top 5 teams but then you have to work to find many top 20 teams…………………
VFP42
September 16th, 2012
2:51 am
Last year them dawgs couldn’t finish games. We typically got 2.5 quarters out of them. I am happy to see a slower start each game this year if that means 4 full quarters from them and a W! Go Russ!
1969 Graduate
September 16th, 2012
6:43 am
If we can’t play all four quarters we won’t beat the best teams, but, yes, I’d much rather us be a second half team than a first half team.
Guys, I’m as hard on the coaches as anyone, and I’ll call a thug a thug on occasions, and it’s way too early to be counting this as a great season, or even a good season, but right now the positive signs are outweighing the negative.
We don’t have the sort of team that Alabama has. Last year LSU didn’t either, but LSU still beat them in the first game. We would be very lucky to pull off a great season this year, but I think it possible if the cards fall right. No, we’re not looking like Alabama, but we’re far from looking like Arkansas. If we keep learning, keep growing, and don’t step on our appendages, we may have something to celebrate in the end.
I want to give the coaches some credit for putting on the field a Dawg team this year, instead of a bunch of glory hounds. On a good day, if we keep improving, if we learn from the mistakes we’re making, and if we put together a four quarter game, we may be able to beat anyone. Fortunately, our schedule favors a team which grows with every game. Let’s hope we are that sort of team. My guess is we might well be.
Besides, Russ is a Damn Good UGA!
Go, Dawgs!
Tekhata
September 16th, 2012
10:22 am
not to sound morbid but how long to we have Russ for? He is already 9 and those breeds don’t have a long life span. I like Russ but I think we should have kept him as an interim until we get a young one ready to go.
Drago
September 16th, 2012
11:28 am
Look in the picture, Mike Adams trying to steal Russ’s collar!
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
11:38 am
Why doesn’t Russ deserve it, because he’s old? Age discrimination….Is it because he’s not all white????? We won’t even go there, will we? Is he a winner? Yes! Does he travel well? Yes! Has he represented UGA well as a stand-in ABSO-F-N-LUTLY! Does he deserve to be Uga IX while the Seiler’s get the next Uga ready? In my humble opinion, YES HE DOES…
kingdaddy
September 16th, 2012
11:47 am
I believe Uga is 8 and the breed generally lives 10-12 years. If he gives us a couple more years of his winning % and personality, the Seiler family will bless Uga with another Traditional Bulldog with the bloodlines of Champions. Patience…
John Savage
September 16th, 2012
12:54 pm
How long before this one offs himself?
Contractor
September 16th, 2012
1:16 pm
Russ deserved the honor. Though he’s not all white, he took his lumps with some poor seasons, but continued to make the trips home and away and exemplified a good bulldog. Hopefully he”ll get his due in part this season with a great showing from the team. Excellent job and Congratulations Russ!
Vince Doodley
September 16th, 2012
1:40 pm
This poor dog is old. Had to be taken out to mid field on a golf cart, then pretty much pulled off the field and put on his bag of ice. About as pathetic a mascot as it can be. poor animal. PETA should intervene here.
anon
September 16th, 2012
3:23 pm
Proofread, Chip. Proofread.
Ga Today
September 17th, 2012
7:26 am
Georgia bulldog fans, the absolute worse fans ever……..
So quick to criticize and boo your own team…..
When have any of you FANS ever known GA to start fast???????
They Won…and they will go all the way to the Dome undefeated too……
Go dogs GATA….please don’t pay attention to the fans, you have to do this on your own!
Really Haters??
September 17th, 2012
12:20 pm
Picking on a mascot…really haters really…sad excuse for human beings..
‘In Russ they trust:’ Uga IX is inaugurated at Sanford Stadium – Georgia – Dawg News
September 20th, 2012
12:21 pm
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