Chris PumphreyWe love college pride, we love sports, and we especially love alliteration (sorry, nerd status!) so Mascot Monday is our attempt at combining all 3 things! Each week we will feature a different, random college mascot, just because. Maybe because we think it’s weird, maybe we think it’s hilarious, or maybe it’s just totally awesome (or some combination of all three!) Check back every Monday to see if we feature your school! Want us to feature your school’s mascot? Comment, email us, or tweet @SurvivinCollege with the tag #MascotMonday!
This week on Mascot Monday: the University of Georgia Bulldogs.
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Don’t ask me how we’ve gone this long without profiling such an iconic mascot. I guess it’s better late than never–so here goes. The University of Georgia has one of the most recognizable mascots in all of college sports. Whether it’s Uga or Hairy, you know exactly which university they’re from. Georgia has developed a brand unlike any other in sports. And I can assure you that the mascot has played a huge role throughout the process.
According to the university’s Wikipedia page, Georgia got the idea for the Bulldog from Yale University. The mascot itself came from the university’s founding father and first president, Abraham Baldwin, who graduated from Yale in 1772. See the connection? The Bulldogs were always seen as a tribute to Baldwin’s alma mater. However, it wasn’t until the fall of 1920 that the term “Georgia Bulldogs” was first used in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The name caught on shortly after and has been used ever since.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
When it comes to college logos, it’s safe to say Georgia’s iconic “G” symbol is one of the greatest of all time. Although it may be simple, it is both classy and badass, truly one-of-a-kind. Now, allow us to move on to the mascot. Lucky for us, Georgia has both a live and costumed mascot. The Dawgs costumed mascot, Hairy Dawg, is everything you could ever ask for in a college mascot. He’s intimidating, lovable and full of pride all at the same time. In fact, his national profile has landed him upon a number of lists detailing the nation’s top mascots.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
While Hairy is beloved in Athens, the true star is Uga bar none. Whether he’s going after opposing players or just lounging on the sidelines during a football game, it’s easy to see why everyone loves him. Seriously though, how could you not fall in love with him? Uga brings a level of pride and symbolism to the university and Georgia is very lucky to have such an outstanding and adorable mascot. Go Dawgs!