All Ugas go to Heaven

Bulldog nation was shocked this week when news spread that beloved mascot Loran's Best (Uga VII) only 4 years old passed away of heart failure Thursday morning. He was about to wrap up his second season after being introduced at the Bulldog's first home game last year. His predecessor and father Uga VI died of congestive heart failure the summer before. His absence was greatly felt Saturday at the Bulldogs' last home game of the season against the Kentucky Wildcats. Who knows maybe if he was around they wouldn't have suffered the shocking loss.
I can't believe in my brief time covering Georgia I've gotten to know two Ugas and been there to document the death of both. Being a huge dog person and having had a love for Bulldogs since childhood I found myself attached to the drooly mascots. During the Kentucky game a man asked me about a play that had just happened and I looked to find Sonny Seiler, the owner of all of the Ugas, standing next to me on the sidelines. Behind us was Uga's empty doghouse adorned with a wreath. It hit me that this man had just lost a beloved family pet and how strange it must be to have a whole stadium worth of people share that loss.

Look back at Uga VI's memorial service and Uga VII's introduction here.

Check out the Athens Banner-Herald's slideshow of Uga VII's memorial ceremony here.


Georgia fans honor the late Uga VII (Loran's Best) with "RIP Loran's Best" painted on their backs before the Bulldogs' 34-27 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday Nov. 21, 2009, at Stanford Stadium.


A wreath was placed on the doghouse of the late Georgia mascot Uga VII who died suddenly Thursday morning at his home in Savannah.


A picture of the late Uga VII and a wreath adorn his doghouse during the Bulldogs' game against the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday Nov. 21, 2009, at Stanford Stadium.




A Georgia Cheerleader takes photos of Uga VII before the Bulldogs' 45-19 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday Oct. 10, 2009, at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn.


Uga VII, Loran's Best, chills on the sidelines after being introduced as Georgia's new mascot at Sanford Stadium before the Georgia Bulldogs played Georgia Southern in 2008.


Georgia mascots Uga VII and Hairy Dawg lounge on the field before the Bulldogs SEC matchup with LSU Saturday at Sanford Stadium.




Uga VII looks on during the runout before the Bulldogs beat the Auburn Tigers 17-13 Saturday November 15, 2008, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, AL.