Georgia’s most prominent bulldog will reportedly be missing from the Sanford Stadium sidelines this fall.
Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald shares that Uga, Georgia’s iconic bulldog live mascot, won’t be present on the sidelines due to COVID-19 protocols. Apparently, Uga won’t be considered “essential” to the SEC and NCAA (plenty of Dawgs fans would certainly disagree).
“It’s my understanding the SEC and NCAA consider the field a ‘bubble,’ and the only people allowed in the bubble are essential,” said Charles Seiler, the dog’s handler and owner, told Weiszer. “As of now, no dog on the field.”
Uga X, named Que, has been in the mascot role since Nov. 21, 2015.
“The whole idea is to have not people to congregate,” Seiler told Weiszer, “and if you know anything about the dog he’s kind of a magnet and he draws people and they’re trying to avoid that.”
Weiszer notes that it will be the first Georgia home game without Uga on the sidelines since Nov. 21, 2009, when Uga VII died suddenly two days earlier.
Uga may be able to visit Georgia games and/or contribute to network TV coverage virtually.
“I have a feeling that as the season rolls around, typically the networks figure out what games are happening and what they want and do they need some color or some filler,” Seiler said. “If we’re not in Athens, we’ll do it virtually or Zoom.”
Georgia begins the season on the road at Arkansas. The Bulldogs’ home-opener is scheduled for Oct. 3 against rival Auburn.
Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics.
