As Georgia prepares for a new Uga, here’s a look at the mascot’s Columbus origins

Caleb Slinkard
Updated ·3 min read
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Boom, a 10-month-old English bulldog, is set to be introduced to the University of Georgia faithful Saturday at the G-Day Game as Uga XI.

He’s the latest in a line of mascots that stretches back to the 1950s and began in Columbus.

The Uga I, originally known as Hood’s Ole Dan, was born in Columbus, according to Ledger-Enquirer archives, and given to Cecilia and Frank “Sonny” Seiler as a wedding gift by Columbus resident Frank Heard in 1956.

Sonny was enrolled in the UGA law school at the time and worked in the athletic department in the afternoon, according to a 1975 L-E article.

“Dan Magill, athletic publicity director at Georgia, became enthused over the dog and took several publicity photographs of Uga and football players,” Sonny told the L-E at the time, adding that the current mascot, a brindle bulldog named Mike, was getting old. “Dan and Coach [Wally] Butts asked 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 1956 in Chapel Hill after Georgia defeated North Carolina (he was painted with lead paint and blistered badly, leading to worries that he might die of blood poisoning). He was succeeded by 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 represented a composite of all the Ugas up to that point, was spearheaded by a Columbus resident — Richard Hecht — and crafted by a another — Wyndell Taylor. Both had graduated from the University of Georgia.

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to display such a handsome piece of art in Sanford Stadium,” then-athletic director Vince Dooley said in 1992. “It will provide an excellent finishing touch to our mascot cemetery and pay fine tribute to the Uga tradition and to the Seiler family.”

G-Day Information

Georgia mascot UGA X gets a little rest as the Dawgs cruised to 42-20 win over the Florida Gators last October.
Georgia mascot UGA X gets a little rest as the Dawgs cruised to 42-20 win over the Florida Gators last October.

Boom succeeds Uga X, also known as Que, who retires as the winningest mascot in UGA history. Boom’s collaring ceremony will take place Saturday at around 3:50 p.m. at the 20-yard-line in the northeast corner of Sanford Stadium.

The G-Day Game will kickoff around 4 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN2. Here’s more information from the University of Georgia:

  • Gates Open: 1 p.m.

  • Alumni Game: 1:15 pm.

  • Dawg Walk: 2:45 p.m.; will begin at Baxter Street extension and proceed though the Tate Student Center Plaza

  • Entry Gates: 1,2,3,4,4A, and 5 ONLY

  • Kickoff: 4 p.m.

  • Tickets: Mobile tickets for general public go on sale at 9 a.m., April 5 via georgiadogs.com

  • Ticket prices: $5 for general public; free for UGA students (students can request beginning April 3)

  • Parking: Campus lots are free and open to general public beginning at 7 a.m. on April 15 (Only lots not available to general public are Tate Center Deck, Reed Hall, Psychology-Journalism, Railroad, East Campus Road, and Stem Deck)

  • Tailgating: Tailgating is permitted, beginning at 7 a.m. on April 15

  • Clear Bag policy is in effect: Fans are permitted to bring one unopened bottle of water