ATLANTA -- Uga VII, the white English bulldog mascot for the University of Georgia's football team for almost two seasons, died Thursday of heart-related causes, the dog's owner said.
The 56-pound dog, nicknamed "Loran's Best," was known as a laid-back mascot who seemed oblivious to crowd noise during boisterous games and would sit patiently as excited fans snapped photos of him. He often roamed the sidelines in a shirt with a 'G' stitched on it, sometimes resting on a bag of ice to cool off in his customized dog house.
The school said there would be a no mascot at Saturday's game in Athens against Southeastern Conference rival Kentucky, but that a wreath will be laid on his doghouse on the field's sidelines. Sonny Seiler, the dog's owner, said he likely wouldn't name a replacement until next year.
"We are all in a state of shock," Seiler said in a news release issued by the university. "We had no warning whatsoever."
The 4-year-old dog made his debut as the mascot in August 2008 after his father, Uga VI, died of congestive heart failure. He had big paws to fill — Uga VI was the school's winningest mascot, racking up a 87-27 record, seven wins in nine bowl appearances and a pair of Southeastern Conference championships.
But Seiler said the dog distinguished himself in his own way.
"He was 10-3 last year which is not bad for a freshman," said Seiler. "Uga VII was not as active or mischievous as his father but more distinguished. He realized his role when he put his shirt on. He was well-behaved and always appreciated the significance of his role."
The dog was the latest in a line of mascots that have been featured on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek and in several movies. He also was a compelling symbol for football fans across the nation, said Damon Evans, the school's athletic director.
"Just as his ancestors, he had captured the hearts of college football fans everywhere as the country's No. 1 mascot," Evans said. "He had been truly embraced by all those who follow the Georgia Bulldogs across the country. We will miss him dearly."
-------------------------------
See more photos of Uga VII here.
Watch video of Uga VII making his debut.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2010 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back 
How old was he? Bulldogs don't live very long, do they? That's not the one that tried to bite a cameraman on the sidelines, is it? I'm sure there is an understudy waiting in the wings who will debut this weekend and make the trip to Atlanta.
rip uga vii
I am sorry to hear that this dog passed. How much will the pomp & circumstance "funeral" cost taxpayers?
He was 0-1 against Tech...in other news, the Yellow Jacket hive in my backyard is doing just fine....
UGA will be fine, The USC has had a whole flock of rosters eaten by Cats and the university has done ok.
Hey Chairman,
Check the record books and you will quickly discover the TOTAL DOMINATION of the wreck known as Ga Tech by the mighty Bulldogs of Georgia! You are a loser!
TheChairman, what an asisine thing to say. I mean, I know that we're talking about a dog...or a "Dawg"...but that was just an insensitive and immature remark to make. I bet your family keeps you away from their funerals, don't they?
waymore you moron it wont cost taxpayers a dime football makes enough money to pay for it self and many other programs to boot believe it or not moron
i guess those people with the UGA flags attached to their cars need to lower them to half mast.
Are you a UGA graduate, thankgodforaugusta?
hey waymore, you're obviously not a DAWG fan or you'd know that the Seiler family (UGA caretakers for years & years) has enough money for all the pomp and circumstance they want, so don't you worry your pretty little head about it
Actually a furlough day is now being planned to pay for the "funeral." If it wasn't for football, UGA would be just another rural university, so if one reads the sports pages on a consistent basis, one will find that the sport is a big moneymaker. Why else would all this hoopla surround this event.
I didn't say anything bad about the dog, just that he was 0-1 against Tech.. Facts of that dog, not the others.
By the way, glad to notice you muttfans have all noted they announced that the baseball player, Veazey, is paralyzed from the waist down. Seems that he and his family needs more prayers and sympathy than a dog..
Lead story on the Chronicle homepage - dead UG mascot, followed by FAA computer crisis, murder, shootings, unemployment, ethics, and economics. Could we maybe consider priorities, folks?
chairman: what a moronic statement to make; I suppose you have absolutely no redeeming values to live by because your ignorance is so great.
Sorry to hear this beloved mascot has passed away; may he rest in peace.
waymore no i am not and you couldn't have graduated from anything includeing grade school
Hey "man"...and I use the term loosely...saw your mention Veazey. You aren't going to rag on him now, are you? These are 2 entirely different issues. As adults, we can carry on appropriate and mature discussions on more than one topic.
sad to loose any pet... he did however have a lot better life than a lot of animals...
I learned how to punctuate and spell. I also learned that I can have a discussion without resorting to name-calling and insults.
The perennial unanswered question: Can UGA students spell the word dog? It is hilarious to see people with no affiliation to the actual university acting like they are actually a part of it. Ha!
I proudly graduated from the University of Georgia, and I mourn the passing of UGA VII. Rest in peace, big dawg.
RIP UGA VII. The game Saturday will not be the same without our mascot there.
r.i.p. uga7. damn good dawg!
They can borrow my wiener dog for Saturday if they want to. He's a big UGA fan!
I say that everyone that goes to the game Saturday wear black in honor of UGA VII. RIP!!!!!!!!!
I see he was sorely dissappointed in GA's performance this year too!
RIP UGA VII..You served your school and the folks who loved you very well. My condolences to the University of Georgia and supporters.
Man, we love to hate something, don't we???? A mascot, loved by UGA fans, dies unexpectedly and that is cause for grown men to get out the hate speech. Glad it wasn't something important like going off to war, cancer, abortion, politics.......
May he ride in the front seat of a 68 ss 396 chevelle convertiable from now through eternity!