Attending the annual spring G-Day football game on April 15, 2023, Georgia fans were in for a flurry of debuts.
The Bulldogs had brought in a slew of talented freshmen and transfers, and injected their national championship team with an electrifying dose of intrigue. Despite all these new faces, perhaps the most anticipated debut came before the game had even started.
Boom, a 10-month-old English bulldog, received the signature Uga spiked collar in a pregame ceremony on G-Day, officially adding him to Georgia’s line of beloved mascots. The Seiler family has owned and cared for each Uga since 1956 and raised the dogs in their home in Savannah, Georgia.
Now Boom is carrying on a legacy of the bulldogs that barked before him. He wasn’t the first Uga and he won’t be the last. Here’s a look back at each of its predecessors, all the way back to the beginning.
It’s a long-standing tradition at the University of Georgia that the school’s living mascot, Uga, attends every football game. Since 2015 Uga is…
Uga 0: In front of the Seilers
Georgia’s first football season came in 1892, with a game against Auburn that set the stage for The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
However, Georgia’s mascot for the game was not a dog at all. On February 22, 1892, Georgia was represented by a goat. The goat was adorned with a black coat that had “UG” emblazoned on the side of the jacket in red letters. It wasn’t until 1894 that the team first had a dog mascot.
Trilby, a female bull terrier owned by a student, was also the mascot of the Chi Phi fraternity. According to some, Trilby and her 13 puppies were the inspiration for the “Bulldog” nickname, which Georgia still goes by.
The last station of Uga’s ancestors came in 1944 with an English bulldog named Mr. Angel. Mr. Angel was the first English bulldog to serve as Georgia’s mascot, a tradition that has been maintained for the past 80 years.
Uga I, Hood’s Ole Dan: 1956-66
Uga I. File/Staff.
The first Uga, Hoods Ole Dan, wasn’t actually born into the Seiler family. It was given to Cecelia Seiler by a friend and made its debut at Georgia’s home game against Florida State University. Uga I was awarded the title — an acronym for the University of Georgia — by William Young, a classmate of Frank Seiler at law school.
After his death, Hood’s Ole Dan was buried in a marble vault near the main gate of the South Stand at Sanford Stadium. His next seven successors were all buried there beside him. According to the Pittsburgh Press, Georgia is the only major college to bury its mascots within stadium boundaries.
Uga II, Ole Dans Uga: 1966-72
Uga II. File/Staff.
Ole Dan’s Uga, son of Hood’s Ole Dan, was introduced in 1966 during a pregame homecoming ceremony. Georgia beat Kentucky 27-15 in the homecoming game and won every remaining game that season.
That was the start of a successful run for Ole Dans Uga. He managed two SEC championship wins and five postseason appearances for the Bulldogs until his retirement in 1972.
Uga III, Seiler’s Uga Three: 1972-80
Seiler’s Uga Three was arguably the most successful Uga, at least until the 21st century rolled around. Uga III officiated the 1980 championship season when Georgian football won its first national championship in school history.
Uga III. File/Personal.
Uga III retired after that season, ending his career in the 100th game of his tenure. During his tenure, Uga Three von Seiler attended six bowl games over nine years, culminating in college football’s biggest prize.
Season IV, Season 4 of Seiler: 1981-89
Uga IV. File/Staff.
Seiler’s Uga Four continued the successful legacy of his predecessors, appearing at a bowl game every year of his tenure as Uga. He was also the first mascot ever invited to attend the Heisman ceremony, appearing alongside Herschel Walker in 1982.
Across nine seasons, Uga IV compiled a 77-27-4 record despite there being a blunder on his resume. Before a road game against Vanderbilt in 1986, Seiler’s Uga Four jumped off a hotel bed, injuring himself. He was briefly replaced by his son Otto, who led Georgia to a 3-1 record during his stint as interim Uga.
Season V, Magillicuddy II Season IV: 1990-99
Uga V. File/Staff
Uga IV’s Magillicuddy II enjoyed a widespread era of success. During the 1998-99 season, Georgia won four NCAA team titles – women’s swimming and diving, women’s gymnastics, men’s tennis and men’s golf – and finished second in the Directors’ Cup race.
His achievement was recognized by Sports Illustrated in 1997 when he was voted the magazine’s “Best Mascot of the Year.” He also appeared in Clint Eastwood’s “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” which was filmed in his hometown of Savannah, Georgia.
Uga VI, Whatchagot Loran of Uga V: 1999-2008
week VI File/Personal.
Up until last year, Uga V’s Whatchagot Loran was the most successful mascot in Georgia history, ending his tenure with an 87-27 record. In this sense, Uga VI was also the largest Uga in university history, weighing 65 pounds – 20 pounds heavier than Uga V.
Despite losing the “most winning” title, Uga VI still holds on to a title. Since starting at the Georgia-South Carolina game in 1999, Uga VI has overseen 114 games, more than any other Uga to date.
Uga VII, Loran’s Best: 2008-2009
Loran’s Best was introduced to fans during a pregame ceremony at Georgia 2008’s season opener, a 45-21 win over Georgia Southern. Uga VII won 10 games in his debut season and capped the year with a 24-12 win at the Capital One Bowl in Orlando.
Courtesy of UGA Sports Comm
Unfortunately, Uga VII only had one full season as Georgia’s mascot and died unexpectedly in 2009 due to heart problems. At the next game, the players wore a special commemorative sticker on their helmets and a wreath was laid at Uga VII’s kennel.
Uga VIII, Big Bad Bruce: 2010-11
Big Bad Bruce was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2010, causing a short reign for UGA VIII. He appeared in the last six games of the regular season that year but missed the 2010 bowl game against the University of Central Florida due to his condition.
Uga VIII’s registered name is “Big Bad Bruce” in honor of Dr. Bruce Hollett of the university’s veterinary school. Hollett was instrumental in the care and treatment of the Bulldog mascots. Photo/Danny White
Uga VIII was named after Dr. Bruce Hollett, a professor at the Georgia Veterinary School and longtime steward of the Uga family. Big Bad Bruce died on February 4, 2011 and Hollett died two years later at the age of 66.
Uga IX, Russ: 2012-2015
Russ dropped his provisional status after being named “Uga IX” by the university. Michael Barone / Associate
When Russ officially began his tenure as Uga in 2012, it wasn’t his first appearance as Georgia’s mascot. Russ served as interim Uga after Uga VII’s death and was called again after Uga VIII’s death.
Although not the typical all-white English bulldog like his predecessors, Uga IX nevertheless enjoyed great success. Georgia won the SEC East twice during his reign and also picked up two bowl wins during that time.
Uga X, What: 2015-23
Much like Russ, Que was already Georgia’s mascot before he was officially inducted into the Uga line. Uga X served as the main mascot in every game in 2015, although it was not until November 21, 2015 that he was used as Uga in a matchup against Georgia Southern.
Uga X, affectionately known as “Que,” is shown before the start of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on Monday, January 8. 2018. (Photo/Casey Sykes, www.caseysykes.com)
Que is the most successful Uga in the history of Georgia, surpassing Uga VI last season. His 91-18 record includes two SEC championship wins, not to mention back-to-back national championships. Uga X was unable to attend Georgia’s second national title win in Los Angeles due to health issues.
Uga XI, Boom: 2023-present
Uga XI, nicknamed Boom, performed at Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium on Friday, April 7, 2023 in Athens, Georgia. Tony Walsh/UGAAA)
Boom is the latest Uga to take the moniker ahead of the G-Day game on April 15, 2023. The 10-month-old Bulldog is almost two years younger than Que when he took on the role in 2015. Boom has an older brother named Mac, who was also considered for the mascot position, although Uga XI ended up falling to Boom.
Uga XI comes at a time of unprecedented success for Georgian football. If the team can continue like this, Boom could challenge Que’s most successful record sooner rather than later.
