The Red and Black

Issue date: 7/3/08 Section: Sports

MICHAEL FITZPATRICK

Media Credit: JIM DIFFLY Several baskets of flower arrangements were sent in honor of Uga VI, who was buried in Sanford Stadium on Monday, June 30. The Georgia football team compiled an 87-27 record during Uga VI's reign, and 19 of Georgia's athletic national championships were captured during his tenure as Georgia's top dog. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: File Uga VI licks a baby Georgia fan in the face. He was the winningest Uga in history. [Click to enlarge]

For the past 10 seasons the Georgia football team has endured the revolving door of athletes - that is, college athletics, a coaching change, and the retirement of the program's chief architect.

But during those same seasons there has been one constant roaming the sidelines between the hedges: Uga V's Whatchagot Loran, better known as Uga VI.

Since Uga VI took over for his father, Uga V, at the start of the 1999 season, Georgia athletics enjoyed their most fruitful run in school history. During his reign, the University won 19 of its 35 national championships and the football team scored a 87-27 record, more wins than a season during any of Uga VI's predecessors.

He attended nine bowl games - the lone exception the 2000 Oahu Bowl, the first time the mascot had missed a bowl game since the 1969 Sun Bowl - including two in which the team earned SEC titles and won two Sugar Bowl games.

Uga is more than a mascot; he is one of the faces of Georgia football, along with Herschel Walker and Vince Dooley. And when he died of congestive heart failure in his Savannah home last Friday, the Bulldog Nation lost a dear member.

For students, Uga VI was all that was known. The lovable, solid white English bulldog that roamed the sidelines and led the team to victory was always there, sitting on his bag of ice or chilling in his air-conditioned doghouse.

He was the subject of a pre-game feature by Fox Sports during the 2008 Sugar Bowl. He drew large crowds of admirers wherever he went.

Dressed in his red jersey on game days, he epitomized the toughness and resiliency needed to navigate through the treacherous SEC.

At his funeral at Sanford Stadium Monday, the Seiler family laid its beloved pet to rest in a private ceremony that included University President Michael Adams and Athletic Director Damon Evans.

Even though the Seilers have confirmed that the historic lineage is secure, with Uga VII being enthroned later this summer, next season will be different. The new mascot will be embraced with the same affection as those before him, though.

In what would have been Uga VI's last season, his team will begin the season ranked in the top two and be a serious contender to win the national championship. And, sadly, he won't be there.

But he will be watching from the heavens with his forefathers.

So instead of winning "one for the Gipper," as legendary Notre Dame head coach Knute Rockne said, let's win one for Uga, our beloved mascot. After all, he certainly earned it.

- Michael Fitzpatrick is the sports editor of The Red & Black

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