DAMN GOOD DOGS!
The Real Story of Uga, the University of Georgia's Bulldog Mascots
Sonny Seiler & Kent Hannon | Authors
- $29.95 | hardcover
- 224 pages | 300 photos
- 1-58818-067-0
- Sports | Regional
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The definitive history of the beloved white English bulldog named America's "No. 1 Mascot" by Sports Illustrated
“Damn Good Dogs! is a damn good read.”—John Berendt
the book
Whenever and wherever the Georgia Bulldogs play football, their famous mascot Uga is there. At home games, he lives in an air-conditioned doghouse that is a popular target for TV cameramen and still photographers. Uga also gets a chance to play photojournalist when he dons the "Uga cam," which transmits a dog's-eye view of the action to the giant matrix screen at Sanford Stadium. Traveling to away games, Uga flies free on Delta Airlines. When Herschel Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1982, Uga IV became the only four-legged invitee to attend the Heisman Trophy banquet in New York. Recently, Uga VI helped Turner South win an Emmy for a three-part Liars & Legends show that he headlined. And that—believe it or not—is just a small part of the 46-year history of the six Georgia mascots.
The name Uga is synonymous with the Georgia Bulldogs, a powerhouse team ranked in the top 20 virtually every year, and the dogs are so revered that when they die they are buried in a mausoleum at Sanford Stadium. But Uga is also a family pet, and Damn Good Dogs! gives readers a rare glimpse into the personal history of these dogs. Full of anecdotes—such as Uga V's famous lunge at an Auburn player in 1996 and Sports Illustrated's decision to put him on the cover of their 1997 college sports issue—Damn Good Dogs! is lavishly illustrated with more than 300 photos and memorabilia from owner Sonny and Cecelia Seiler's private collection.
the authors
Sonny Seiler is the owner of the line of white English bulldogs who have served as the University of Georgia's mascot since 1956. He is an internationally-known attorney who got Jim Williams acquitted in the murder trial made famous in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Seiler appeared together with Uga V in Clint Eastwood's film version. He lives and practices law in Savannah and is past president of the State Bar of Georgia and the UGA National Alumni Association.
Kent Hannon is the editor of Georgia Magazine, the official alumni magazine of the University of Georgia, and a former staff writer at Sports Illustrated.
the dog
The University of Georgia's mascot, Uga VI, is the current standard-bearer for almost five decades of English bulldogs who have faithfully served a legion of Georgia football fans, carrying on a grand tradition since Uga I became the mascot in 1956.
"People pet him so much his head gets sore. He’s like a politician who shakes too many hands."—Sonny Seiler
"Uga is the best mascot a team could have. He’ll lay on you. He’ll lick on you. Give him a bone and he’ll love you for life."—Clarence Kay, Georgia football player, 1980-83
the movie
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Damn Good Dog: A new feature-length "dogumentary" chronicling the 46 year history of Uga! Coming Summer 2003 from Nowhere Productions Click here for more information |
the praise
"A celebration of the jowly, even Churchillian pooches prowling the autumnal Athenian sidelines"—Savannah Morning News
"A huge hit"—Athens Banner-Herald