Uga VII to be introduced Saturday

ATHENS, Ga. — The seventh in the Uga line of Georgia mascots will be introduced Saturday during pregame ceremonies of the Bulldogs’ season opener against Georgia Southern.

“Loran’s Best” will officially become “Uga VII,” when he is introduced for the first time to the Sanford Stadium crowd prior to the 12:34 p.m. kickoff. Members of the Sonny Seiler family of Savannah, Ga., who have owned the continuous line of mascots since Uga I took up the mantle in 1956, will escort Uga VII on to the field.

He succeeds his father, Uga VI, who died in June of this year.

Uga VII, at 56 1/2 pounds, will be second only to Uga VI as the biggest mascot in the line.

“He’s a great pet, already answers to his name, loves to travel and ride in the car,” Seiler said in a press release from the school. “He sleeps in his kennel in the den and is fed Hill’s prescription maintenance dog food at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Uga VII already loves to sit on the dock by the river and is ready for his first boat ride.”

“Loran’s Best” was originally named for long-time Georgia Athletic Association personality Loran Smith.

A video tribute to Uga VI will be shown on the stadium scoreboard prior to the official introduction of Uga VII.