Uga (mascot)

Uga
Uga I
University	University of Georgia
Conference	SEC
Description	English bulldog
Origin of name	University of GeorgiA
First seen	1956
Related mascot(s)	Hairy Dawg

Uga (/ˈʌɡə/ UG-ə) is the official live mascot of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Since 1956, all the dogs serving as Uga have been part of a lineage of English Bulldogs owned by Sonny Seiler.

The Uga mascot line started in 1956 when Seiler brought a bulldog that was given to him as a wedding present by Frank Heard to Georgia's first home game of the season. Afterwards, head coach Wally Butts asked his permission to use the dog as Georgia's mascot, and around the same time a college friend, Billy Young, suggested that he name it Uga, a play on the common abbreviation of the University of Georgia, UGA. Since then, every Uga has been owned by and lived with the Seiler family in Savannah, Georgia.

Traditionally, the current Uga is present at every Georgia Bulldogs home football game, many away games, and other University-related functions and sports events, and usually wears a spiked collar and red jersey with varsity letter. The red jersey is Uga's typical "uniform," though he wears a green jersey on St. Patrick's Day. Other special appearances include 1982, when Uga IV attended the Heisman Trophy Ceremony in New York City wearing a tuxedo, and 2007, when Uga VI wore a black jersey for the "blackout" game against Auburn University. Uga's jersey is made from the same fabric as the players' official game jerseys, and he even has an official student identification card. He has a custom-built air conditioned dog house at Sanford Stadium and typically sits on or near bags of ice at games, as bulldogs are susceptible to heat stroke (a problem in the humid southeastern United States).

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