Officials at the University of Georgia announced they will introduce Boom, the ten-month-old English Bulldog, as Uga XI during pregame ceremonies at the upcoming annual G-Day (Spring Football) Game on Saturday, April 15, on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens.
The ceremonial collaring of Boom will start with eight minutes on the pregame clock at approximately 3:50 p.m. and will take place on the 20-yard line, northeast corner of Sanford Stadium. Fans are encouraged to find their seats early to watch the ceremony.
The new mascot will succeed Uga X, affectionately known as Que, who will retire as the winningest mascot in Georgia history.
Que was two and half years old when he began his reign as Georgia’s beloved mascot in 2015. He compiled an impressive 91-18 record, which included back-to-back College Football Playoff National Championships, two SEC titles and victories in the Rose, Sugar, Orange and Peach bowls.
Uga X joined “Seiler’s Uga Three” as the only two Bulldogs in Georgia history to win a national championship and passed Uga VI, who reigned from 1999-2008, as the winningest Bulldog in Georgia lore.
Savannah's Charles Seiler, the son of Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler is now in charge of the famous mascots, which are also their family's pets. He and his family accompany the bulldogs to appearances--everything from games and events to parades. He explained why the change is happening now.
“Uga X (Que) is a good dog, and he’s fine. He’s just getting a little older, and getting a little arthritis--and he doesn’t want to really move around a whole lot. And so, when that happens, we typically look to replace him with a younger dog.”
When asked about the kind of life the line of bulldogs may lead away from the stadium lights and mobs of fans, Seiler replied: “Well, I don’t know. I’ve had bulldogs all my life and our dogs are ‘our dogs’. And I haven’t had any other kind of dogs. Actually, I did marry into a poodle,” he said, laughing. “He was held in high esteem also. I (and the dogs) wouldn’t really know any different. I’ve grown up with them, and they have always been a mascot. So I guess you could say these dogs have a good life.”
The line of pure white English bulldogs, which epitomizes everything Georgia, has been owned by the Seiler family of Savannah since Uga I first graced the campus in 1956.
He was given his name, an abbreviation for the university, by William Young of Columbus, a law school classmate of Seiler. Each of the Uga mascots is awarded a varsity letter in the form of a plaque, identical to those presented to all Bulldog athletes who letter in their respective sports.
Que assumed the title of Uga X at the age of 2 1/2 years in 2015. During his audition, he made appearances at the Countdown to Kickoff event in July 2015, as well as Picture Day in August, before presiding over the entirety of the 2015 football season. Que capped his inaugural season by leading the team to a 24-17 victory over Penn State at the 2016 Taxslayer Bowl.
He's now turning over a legacy that includes back-to-back College Football Playoff National Championships. You might say Boom has a pretty large collar to fill.
