ATHENS, Ga. --- The University of Georgia's beloved mascot, Uga VII, died unexpectedly in Savannah on Thursday.
The dog's owner said the white English bulldog died suddenly of an apparent heart attack. He was 4 years old and in his second season as the university's mascot.
"We are all in a state of shock. We had no warning whatsoever," owner Frank "Sonny" Seiler of Savannah said in a news release issued by the university.
"It was totally unexpected. He had a wonderful checkup at the vet school last week," said Seiler's daughter, Swann Seiler.
University officials said there would be no mascot on the field Saturday in what would have been the dog's final home game of the season, when Georgia plays host to Kentucky.
Instead, a wreath will be laid on Uga's doghouse on the Sanford Stadium sidelines. Uga VII, more dignified and proper than his father and predecessor, had a 16-7 record -- 10-3 last year and 6-4 this year. The university announced no memorial plans, but the dog's final resting place likely will be in a wall at Sanford Stadium, the final resting place for the Ugas who have gone before him.
Sonny Seiler said the next mascot, Uga VIII, won't be chosen until next year. The Uga line of bulldogs, all owned by Seiler, has roamed the sidelines at Georgia football games and other athletic events since 1956.
"I was very shocked and sad to hear about Uga VII," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I got a chance to talk to Sonny today actually and hear a little bit about it. You never think something like that could happen that quickly, but it certainly did. We're sad we won't have him on the sideline."
Bulldogs as a breed are prone to heart problems, respiratory ailments and other medical problems, said Ruthann Phillips, the director of Georgia English Bulldog Rescue, a Winder-based group that takes care of orphaned English bulldogs.
Phillips said bulldogs "have the sweetest personality," but she noted the mashed-in shape of their faces puts great stress on their hearts and lungs, and even bulldogs with the best medical care can have severe and unexpected medical problems.
Reach Lee Shearer at lee.shearer@morris.com.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
- The Citadel at Georgia Southern, 2 p.m. (No TV)
- Virginia at Clemson, 3:30 p.m. (ABC-Ch. 6)
- Kentucky at Georgia, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2)
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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RIP you Hairy DAWG. You were a shining champion who did your team and the school proud. You will me missed greatly. My sympathies to the Seiler family and to all bulldogs for their loss. --Proud UGA graduate. Class of '82 "GO DAWGS
Damn Good Dog.....
r.i.p. uga vii. damn good dawg!
This is so sad, but sadly this happens a lot with pure breeds. Everyone thinks they are better having come from a good bloodline, but they often die young and have heart and hip problems. A 4 year old dog should not have a heart attack. RIP UGA.