Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Why Uga Rules*

For football fans the end of summer is a special time, a time of hope and anticipation as teams gear up and road trip and tailgating plans come together. For Georgia fans, and really for all SEC fans, one figure looms large as fall approaches, and it's not a coach or a player. It's Uga—one of the most famous and revered collegiate mascots.

“Let the word go forth to every present and future Georgia football player or coach,” noted Boston Globe columnist and ESPN commentator, Bob Ryan. “You may win the Heisman Trophy. You may capture the national championship. But no matter what you do, you will remain the A-Rod to Uga’s Jeter. In the state of Georgia, Uga rules.*”

Sure, there are other great mascots out there. High marks have to go to the University of Colorado for the sheer insanity of running Ralphie the Buffalo onto the field each game. Who would have thought a nut could make a good mascot, but somehow Brutus the Buckeye works for Ohio State. There are even enough other bulldog mascots out there to form a decent-size pack.

But Uga is special, in large part because of the unusually rich and colorful history surrounding the mascots going back more than fifty years. In DAMN GOOD DOGS!: THE REAL STORY OF UGA, THE UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA'S BULLDOG MASCOTS, Sonny Seiler, owner of the Uga bulldogs since 1956, and Kent Hannon tell the story of the Uga tradition. Lavishly illustrated with more than 500 photos and just revised to include sections on Uga VI, Uga VII, Uga VIII, and Russ, the super sub, this is the perfect book for UGA students, alums, and any member of the Bulldog nation.

You can meet Kent Hannon (left) and Sonny Seiler (right) and get a signed book at the following events:

Saturday, Aug. 20 / 1:00-3:00 p.m.
Athens, GA
UGA Football Picture Day signing. This is a ticketed event with limited capacity. For more info click here.

Saturday, Sept. 3 / 10:00 a.m.
Decatur, GA
Decatur Book Festival talk and signing at the Decatur Presbyterian Church. For more info on the festival click here.

Friday, Sept. 9 / 11:00-1:00 p.m.
Macon, GA
Signing at the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame

Saturday, Sept. 10 / 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Athens, GA
Signing at the University of Georgia Bookstore

Friday, Nov. 4 / 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Athens, GA
Signing at the Georgia Center in the Pecan Tree Gallery

Friday, Nov. 18 / time TBD
Athens, GA
Signing at the University of Georgia Bookstore for UGA Alumni Night

Publication of this book was made possible, in part, by the President’s Venture Fund through generous gifts of the University of Georgia Partners. A portion of the proceeds from sales of this book benefits the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

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