Boom, a 10-month-old English bulldog, will be featured as the University of Georgia’s Uga XI at Saturday’s G-Day Game.
He is the latest in a line of mascots that dates back to the 1950s and began in Columbus.
The Uga I, originally known as Hoods Ole Dan, was born in Columbus, according to Ledger Enquirer archives, and was given to Cecilia and Frank “Sonny” Seiler as a wedding present in 1956 by Frank Heard of Columbus.
According to a 1975 LE article, Sonny was enrolled in UGA law school at the time and worked afternoons in the athletic department.
“Dan Magill, Georgia’s sports publicity director, was smitten with the dog and took several promotional photos of Uga and football players,” Sonny told LE at the time, adding that the current mascot, a brindle bulldog named Mike, is getting old. “Dan and Coach [Wally] Butts requested that Uga serve as the official mascot to replace the retiring Mike.”
The rest is history. Uga I represented the Bulldogs for a decade, surviving a harrowing kidnapping in Chapel Hill in 1956 after Georgia defeated North Carolina (he was lead-painted and severely blistered, leading to fears he might die of blood poisoning). His successor was his son Uga II (Argus) in 1966.
Since then, every Uga has been owned by the Seiler family. But that’s not the last connection between the legendary mascot and Columbus.
In 1992, the University unveiled a bronze statue at Sanford Stadium. The project, which was a composite of all the Ugas up to that point, was spearheaded by a resident of Columbus – Richard Hecht – and crafted by another – Wyndell Taylor. Both graduated from the University of Georgia.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to display such a beautiful piece of art at Sanford Stadium,” then-sporting director Vince Dooley said in 1992, telling Uga Tradition and the Seiler family.
The story goes on
G-Day Information
Georgia mascot UGA X gets a bit of a break as the Dawgs drove to a 42-20 win over the Florida Gators last October.
Boom succeeds Uga X, also known as Que, who is retiring as the most successful mascot in UGA history. Boom’s collar ceremony will be held at approximately 3:50 p.m. Saturday at the 20-yard line in the northeast corner of Sanford Stadium.
The G-Day game begins around 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. Here is more information from the University of Georgia:
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Gate opening: 1 p.m
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Alumni game: 1:15 p.m.
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Dawg Walk: 2:45 p.m.; begins at the Baxter Street Extension and continues to the Tate Student Center Plaza
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Entrance gates: 1,2,3,4,4A and 5 ONLY
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Kick-off: 4 p.m
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Tickets: Mobile tickets for the general public go on sale April 5 at 9am via georgiadogs.com
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Ticket prices: $5 for the general public; free for UGA students (students can request from April 3rd)
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Parking: On-campus parking is free and open to the public beginning April 15 at 7:00 a.m. (only parking lots not open to the public are Tate Center Deck, Reed Hall, Psychology-Journalism, Railroad, East Campus Road and Stem Deck)
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Tailgating: Tailgating is allowed starting April 15 at 7:00 am
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Clear bag policy applies: fans are allowed to bring one unopened bottle of water
