He was a Damn Good Dawg!

Today is a sad day for the Bulldog Nation, today UGA VI will be put to rest in a marble vault in the southwest corner of Sanford Stadium with his predecessors. UGA VI, who is the winningest mascot in the University of Georgia’s history, died on Friday evening from congestive heart failure. His owner, Sonny Seiler said he noticed UGA VI breathing heavily on Friday evening and that he had some congestion in his throat when he arrived home from work on Friday. Mr. Seiler contacted the family veterinarian after giving UGA VI a bath, which always brought UGA VI great enjoyment. Once at the vet’s office, the doctor examined him just before he passed. His heart just played out. UGA didn’t suffer any pain and he died peacefully (as I wipe away a tear from my eye.)

UGA VI, who would have turned 10 on July 22nd, has been the official mascot for the University since 1999. The record for the football team during his tenure was 87-27 with 2 SEC Championships and 6 bowl game victories. For the entire school, UGA VI’s reign produced 19 National Championships, 35 SEC Championships and 6 top 10 finishes in the Director’s Cup, the annual all-sports competition ranking the nation’s top athletic programs. UGA VI has been the biggest mascot for the university on a couple of different levels. He is by far the biggest in size weighing in at 65 lbs, but also in popularity. UGA VI was also voted the best college mascot by Sports Illustrated in 2001; he also has some acting credits to his name as he appeared in the 1997 movie, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” He has had many stories done on him including and Emmy-winning episode of Liars and Legends and a segment on NBC Nightly News, also once stopped in as a special guest of the US Congress. He always has the biggest crowd around him at any function that he attends and he will truly be missed. Click here to see a short video on what UGA means to the University.

His replacement is already set, though it has not been announced yet. All I know is the UGA VII will have some big paws to fill. I know he will do a good job, but there will always be a special place in all Bulldog fan’s heart for UGA VI. He patroled the sidelines with a fierce presence and ferocious demeanor and his teams responded with the winningest record of them all. He truly was a damn good dawg!