As your Athens veterinary team at Boulevard Animal Hospital, we care for dogs of every breed — but one bulldog holds a special place in every Dawg fan’s heart. Here’s the complete history of Uga, the University of Georgia’s legendary live mascot.
Before There Was a Bulldog: Georgia’s Early Mascots
Most Georgia fans don’t realize the Bulldogs didn’t always have a bulldog on the sideline. When UGA played its very first football game against Auburn on February 22, 1892, the team’s mascot was a goat — outfitted in a black coat with red “U.G.” letters stitched on each side. Not exactly the fearsome presence Bulldog Nation is used to today.
By 1894, the goat gave way to a solid white bull terrier named Trilby, owned by a student from Atlanta. Trilby became a legend in her own right. According to an Atlanta newspaper clipping preserved by the university, Trilby ran onto the practice field one afternoon with her 13 puppies, barking at the players. One player reportedly hollered, “Well, Trilby has brought us a name — Bulldogs!” Whether that’s exactly how the nickname was born remains debated, but the name stuck — and by 1920, the “Bulldogs” was officially adopted as the school’s permanent nickname.
Through the 1940s and early 1950s, several live bulldogs informally accompanied the team. The tradition was building in the history of our UGA mascot. It just needed the right dog and the right family to make it official.
The Origin Story: A Wedding Gift That Launched a Dynasty (1956)
In 1956, a young Georgia law student named Frank “Sonny” Seiler received an unusual wedding present: a white English bulldog puppy from a friend named Frank Heard. His wife Cecelia sewed the pup a little red shirt with a “G” cut from felt — and the couple brought him to the season opener more or less on a whim.
As Seiler later recalled, after a few iced teas at the Sigma Chi house, the group decided to take the dog into Sanford Stadium itself. Georgia head coach Wally Butts spotted the dog on the sidelines, was immediately charmed, and asked Seiler if the bulldog could become the team’s official mascot.
A college friend, Billy Young, suggested the name “Uga” — a nod to the common abbreviation for the University of Georgia. Uga I was born.
Since that afternoon in 1956, every official Uga has been owned by the Seiler family of Savannah, Georgia — volunteering their personal pets to the university as an act of tradition and pride, without compensation, for nearly 70 years.
The Complete Uga Lineage: Uga I Through Uga XI
Uga I — “Hood’s Ole Dan” (1956–1966)
The original. Uga I set the standard for every dog that followed, presiding over one SEC championship (1959) and an Orange Bowl victory (1960). At the passing-of-the-bone ceremony to Uga II, Sanford Stadium erupted in a chant that became his forever epitaph: “Damn Good Dog.”
Fun fact: Uga I was a grandson of a bulldog that had traveled with the Georgia team to the 1943 Rose Bowl.
Uga II — “Ole Dan’s Uga” (1966–1972)
Uga II’s era brought two SEC titles (1966, 1968), a Cotton Bowl, and even a national championship by the 1968 Litkenhous poll. His epitaph captures the dry humor that became a Seiler family hallmark: “Not Bad for a Dog.”
Substitute mascot trivia: When Uga II fell ill in 1971, a female brown-and-white bulldog named Bugga Lou — entirely unrelated to the Uga line — filled in for two games. A true one-of-a-kind substitute.
Uga III — “Seiler’s Uga Three” (1972–1981)
Uga III presided over one of Georgia’s greatest eras, including the legendary 1980 national championship season behind Herschel Walker’s record-breaking freshman year. He won two SEC titles and a Sugar Bowl, and walked off into doggie heaven a champion. His epitaph: “How ‘Bout This Dawg.”
Uga IV — “Seiler’s Uga Four” (1981–1990)
Uga IV holds a distinction no other mascot in any sport can claim: he was the first live mascot ever invited to a Heisman Trophy presentation. In 1982, he accompanied Herschel Walker to the Downtown Athletic Club in New York City, wearing a custom black collar and tie over his red jersey.
He also had an eventful 1986 season — he missed four games after injuring his knee jumping off a hotel bed the night before a game against Vanderbilt. His older brother Otto filled in and went 3–1. His epitaph: “Faithful Companion.”
Uga V — “Seiler’s Uga Five” (1990–1999)
The most famous Uga to the outside world. Uga V landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated in April 1997, declared “College Football’s Best Mascot.” He also starred alongside Kevin Spacey in Clint Eastwood’s film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, filmed in his hometown of Savannah.
His defining moment came in 1996: after an Auburn wide receiver scored a touchdown in front of the Georgia bench, Uga V lunged at him — a photograph now iconic across the SEC. His epitaph: “Nation’s Best College Mascot” — Sports Illustrated.
Uga VI — “Uga V’s Whatchagot Loran” (1999–2008)
Named in honor of longtime Georgia football sideline reporter Loran Smith, Uga VI was the biggest Uga ever — weighing in at 65 pounds, roughly 20 pounds heavier than his father. He presided over 114 games, built a record of 87–27, and won two SEC titles and two Sugar Bowls. His epitaph: “A Big Dog for a Big Job, and He Handled It Well.”
Uga VII (2008–2009)
Uga VII’s time was tragically short. He passed away unexpectedly on November 19, 2009 of heart-related causes — just days before the final home game of the season. The Bulldogs honored him with a wreath on his doghouse and a special helmet decal. His epitaph: “Always in Our Hearts.”
Uga VIII (2010–2011) & Uga IX (2012–2015)
Uga VIII served just two seasons before health issues led to an early retirement — the shortest tenure in the dynasty’s history. Uga IX steadied the line across three solid seasons, returning the program to its winning tradition and setting the stage for the most decorated Uga yet.
Uga X — “Que” (2015–2023)
Uga X became the most accomplished mascot in Georgia history. During his tenure the Bulldogs won back-to-back CFP National Championships (2022 and 2023), two SEC titles, a Rose Bowl, two Peach Bowls, and a Sugar Bowl. In 2022, Uga X — and by extension the entire Uga lineage — was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.
He also had a memorable encounter with Texas longhorn Bevo at the 2019 Peach Bowl, sending the 2,000-pound steer into a charge. Uga X passed away on January 23, 2024, at age 10. His epitaph: “‘Nuff Said.”
Uga XI — “Boom” (2023–Present)
The current reigning mascot. Boom received his collar at the G-Day spring scrimmage on April 15, 2023, and has already added two SEC championships (2024, 2025) and an Orange Bowl to the family legacy. The dynasty continues.
The Mausoleum Inside Sanford Stadium
One of the most remarkable traditions in all of college sports sits quietly at the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium here in Athens. Every Uga who has passed is buried in a marble mausoleum within the stadium walls, each grave marked with a personalized eulogy and the epitaph their era earned. A bronze, life-sized Uga statue guards the entrance.
Before every Georgia home game, flowers are placed at the graves. The University of Georgia notes it is the only major college program in the country that buries its mascots inside the stadium itself. If you’ve never visited, it’s a genuinely moving spot — accessible on game days and during stadium tours.
Game-Day Life: How Uga Lives on the Sideline
Don’t feel too sorry for Uga on those hot August Saturdays. His on-field home is a custom air-conditioned doghouse positioned next to the Georgia cheerleaders’ platform — a necessary luxury given Athens summers. The Seiler family personally transports him from Savannah to every home game and many away games, keeping every Uga as a true family pet first and mascot second.
When one Uga retires, the family holds a formal “Passing of the Collar” ceremony to the next in line. And in a record no team would take for granted — no Uga in history has ever finished with a losing record.
A Note from Your Athens Vet: English Bulldog Health
We love Uga as much as any Dawg fan — but as the team at Boulevard Animal Hospital, we also know that English bulldogs need some extra care. Their signature flat faces — a trait called brachycephaly — can lead to breathing challenges, heat sensitivity, and snoring that rivals a Georgia linebacker. They’re also prone to skin fold infections, joint issues, and eye conditions.
That air-conditioned doghouse at Sanford Stadium? Smart mascot management. If you’re a bulldog owner here in Athens, the same principle applies: keep them cool, watch for breathing changes, and stay on top of preventive wellness visits.
If you have an English bulldog (or any breed) and want a veterinary team that truly knows Athens — schedule an appointment with us. We’d love to help keep your dog in championship condition.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UGA Mascot and history of UGA mascot
How many UGA mascots have there been?
There have been eleven official Uga mascots since 1956, designated Uga I through Uga XI. The current mascot is Uga XI, nicknamed “Boom,” who took over in April 2023.
Who owns the UGA mascot?
Every Uga has been owned by the Seiler family of Savannah, Georgia, since Sonny Seiler introduced Uga I in 1956. The family has shared their bulldogs with the university as a family tradition, without compensation, for nearly 70 years.
Where are the UGA mascots buried?
Every Uga is buried in a marble mausoleum at the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia. Each grave has a personalized epitaph, and flowers are placed there before every home game.
What breed is UGA the mascot?
Uga is a purebred white English Bulldog. Every official Uga has been a white English Bulldog from the Seiler family’s lineage, directly descended from Uga I.
What was Georgia’s mascot before the bulldog?
Georgia’s very first mascot in 1892 was a goat, followed by a white bull terrier named Trilby in 1894. The Bulldogs nickname was formally adopted in 1920, and the official Uga lineage began in 1956. This is a rarely know fact in the history of our UGA mascot.
Sources: Georgia Bulldogs Athletics — History of the UGA Mascot | Wikipedia — Uga (mascot) | New Georgia Encyclopedia
