RIP - Uga VII

It is with a heavy heart that we report the unexpected death of Uga VII, the live English bulldog mascot of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Recognizable to sports fans the world over, Uga has graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine and had roles in movies such as Clint Eastwood's late 1990's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. He was laid to rest alongside the six previous Uga mascots in a mausoleum inside the team's stadium and the team took the field last night without a live mascot patrolling the sidelines for the first time since 2000. Players wore decals on their helmets honoring Uga and there was a moment of silence before the game. In his two seasons as mascot, he was 16-7. Uga VII was 4 years old.

For those unfamiliar, the Uga tradition is one of the truly unique ones in sports. The Seiler family of Savannah, GA has been loaning their family pets to the University for over 5 decades. As one Uga passes, the family selects another bulldog from the current mascot's extensive brood of heirs. Once selected, he will introduced to the university and welcomed with more fanfare than any incoming freshmen. Although plans are in place to name an interim mascot for Georgia's remaining two games, Uga VIII is not expected to be named until after the football season has completed.