Ugaʼs undeniably one of the most personable and likable of all college team mascots. Heʼs good-natured, loves children, accepts the affection of his legions of fans without a fuss, letting them pet him until his broad head and shoulders must be nearly raw. If ever there were a genial, self-effacing breed of dog, itʼs the English Bulldog. Which is part of the reason everyone loves Uga. Even rival fans love Uga. You just canʼt help it.

If all the accolades and attention werenʼt enough already, being featured in Tom Berendtʼs bestseller, Midnight In The Garden of Good And Evil, and then in the blockbuster movie made from the book just blew things all out of proportion.

The Ugas began their affable rein back in 1956, when Uga I first trundled out onto the football field. He was the grandson of Old Dan, a white English Bulldog who accompanied the 1942 Georgia Bulldogs to the Rose Bowl and came back with the national championship. Uga Iʼs tenure lasted for ten years, during which time he presided over 1959ʼs SEC championship team.

Uga II was also a descendant of Old Dan and managed to cram two SEC titles and one national championship into a mere six years. Good dog, as they say in Georgia!

Uga III was the first to carry the Seiler name that has become synonymous with Georgia football — and inseparable from the name Uga. He also had two SEC championships and a national championship season before retiring in 1981.

His successor, Uga IV, had a very distinguished career. Not only did he have a stellar record, 77-27-4, with two SEC championships to his credit, he was the first four legged mascot to be invited to the Heisman award banquet. Herschel Walker looked proud to accompany Uga, wearing a custom fitted tux like a proper British gentleman, to the famous Downtown Athletic Club for the event. Along with all the superlatives of Herschel Walkerʼs career, he will always be the first nominee — or winner — to walk the dog through that venerable space.

Another incident in the life of Uga IV was the Substitute. Uga IV injured his leg when he jumped off the hotel bed before the Vanderbilt game, so his older brother, Otto, stepped into the dog house and kept watch over the team for the next four games until Uga was well enough to resume his regular duties. Otto will be forever remembered for coming off the bench and saving the day.

Uga V had a colorful life. He got a lot of attention. He played the role of his father, Uga IV, in the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. He showed he wasnʼt just another pretty face when he made a lunge for Auburn receiver, Robert Baker, during a game, and was chosen to grace the front of Sports Illustrated magazine. He even amassed another impressive winning record, although no championships.

Uga VI put away two SEC titles, two Bowl championships and a record of winning over 20 ranked opponents — more than any Uga before him. Now there was a Damn Good Dog.

Uga VII officially took over the custom made air conditioned field/dog house in August, 2008, after the retirement of Uga VI. Heʼs still making a name for himself but thereʼs little doubt heʼll live up to his predecessors and make them proud.

There is tradition around Uga. His jerseys are always made from the same cloth as the team jerseys. When Uga retires, so do his jerseys. His spiked collar seems a little out of place around a neck that holds up that big, wide-grinning, friendly face that seems to say, “there are no strangers, only friends I havenʼt licked.”

And when each incarnation of Uga reaches his final retirement, his body is laid to rest in a family mausoleum near the main entrance of Sanford Stadium. The university flag flies at half mast, and Iʼm sure many students look toward it and utter one last, “Damn Good Dog!” But there will always be an Uga, and a son or grandson steps into the empty dog house and begins a new season as he hears “Damn Good Dog” for the first time, just for him.