Football Feature Archives

How to be a Bulldog in the Sunshine State

May 3, 2021/by Caroline Odom

You can commit to the G no matter where you live, but Bulldogs living in Florida may have to work a bit harder to represent the red and black. We asked a few Florida-based Dawgs for tips on how they show their UGA spirit amid a sea of Gator orange.

Wear your Georgia gear proudly and often.

Whether you’re relaxing on one of Florida’s beaches or waiting in line at Disney World, red and black is a must. You’re sure to spot another Bulldog in the crowd when you do!

Find a fellow Bulldog to watch games with.

When it’s Saturday in Athens and you’re wishing you could be between the hedges, team up with other alumni to cheer on the Bulldogs. UGA alumni chapters make this easy by hosting game-watching parties in several Florida cities.

Order a taste of Athens to your Florida doorstep.

Whether you’re craving a cup of Jittery Joe’s coffee or missing the legendary biscuits from Mama’s Boy, many Athens-based companies will ship your favorite treats to the Sunshine State.

Travel to Jacksonville for the Georgia-Florida football game.

Even if you don’t have tickets to the game, this big game is the perfect opportunity to reunite with Bulldogs you’ve missed. It’s also a chance to show your Florida friends what “committing to the G” is all about.

Dress your dog in a UGA bandana when you go for a walk.

Because nothing says “Go Dawgs” like a dog representing the red and black.

Join your local Alumni Chapter.

Don’t reminisce about Athens alone—find your Alumni Chapter to connect with other UGA grads for game-watching parties and other networking and community service events.

Purchase a voucher for a UGA license plate in Florida.

We don’t suggest honking every time you see a UGA sticker on the highway, but we do recommend adding some UGA swag to your car with a UGA specialty license plate. Before the state of Florida will offer a UGA specialty license plate, though, 4,000 plates must be pre-sold by October 2022. Own multiple cars? Purchase a voucher for each one and help us reach 4,000 soon!

Purchase your UGA license plate voucher

And finally: never, ever, ever wear orange.

Thank you to Orlando Alumni Chapter President Amanda Morris (BSED ’19), for her help with this post!

Eight reasons why Uga is the best mascot

February 22, 2021/by Laura Nwogu

1. He’s a loyal family man

Uga has been owned by the same family since he arrived on the University of Georgia’s campus in 1956. Frank W. Seiler’s (BBA ’56, JD ’57) family of Savannah, Georgia, owns the English Bulldogs and is as much a part of their family as he is the UGA family.

2. He knows how to live in style

Sweating in the Georgia heat during a home game? What’s that? Uga’s on-field home is a permanent air-conditioned dog house located next to the cheerleaders’ platform. He gets to sit on a bag of ice to chill during the hot fall Saturdays in Athens. He also has his own room at UGA’s Center for Continuing Education & Hotel.

3. He’s graced the cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine

Uga is a model, plain and simple. Oh, and Sports Illustrated also named him the No. 1 mascot in all of college football. Nothing big.

4. He has his own car

What’s that coming down the tracks? Uga in a Victory Red Suburban provided by Athens Chevrolet! Uga rides to Georgia games in style in an official vehicle that has a custom license plate detailing his name and roman numeral.

5. He’s taken on a longhorn and survived the day

You might remember the 2019 All-State Sugar Bowl against the University of Texas Longhorns where their mascot, Bevo, charged Uga X and everyone went up in a frenzy. Good thing is that Uga came out unscathed. What other mascot has been targeted by an almost two-ton longhorn and survived?

6. He’s a movie star

Petition to get Uga a movie franchise like Beethoven? Uga V made a cameo appearance in the 1997 film “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and had several scenes with John Cusack’s character walking through Forsyth Park. He had no bad sides, and the camera loved him.

7. He knows how to work hard

The GIF speaks for itself. Good boy.

8. He has the best squad

Name a better trio. We’ll wait.

2021 UGA football schedule

January 29, 2021/by UGA Alumni

Apr 17 – G-Day
Sep 4 – vs. Clemson – Charlotte, NC
Sep 11 – UAB
Sep 18 – South Carolina
Sep 25 – @ Vanderbilt
Oct 2 – Arkansas
Oct 9 – @ Auburn
Oct 16 – Kentucky
Oct 23 – Bye week
Oct 30 – vs. Florida – Jacksonville, FL
Nov 6 – Missouri
Nov 13 – @ Tennessee
Nov 20 – Charleston Southern
Nov 27 – @ Georgia Tech

After an uncertain (but successful!) 2020 football season for the Georgia Bulldogs, the announcement of the 2021 schedule rings a bell of hope for Bulldog fans everywhere. The team will kick off the regular season against the Clemson Tigers in Charlotte, North Carolina, and close it out with a showdown in Atlanta against our in-state rivals, from Georgia Tech. Planning to attend a home game in Athens this fall? UGA will host the University of Alabama at Birmingham, South Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri and Charleston Southern.

In Kirby Smart’s (BBA ’98) sixth season as head coach, the team’s roster will include returning players Jamaree Salyer, JT Daniels and James Cook, and five-star recruits Amarius Mims, Brock Vandagriff, Xavian Sorey and Smael Mondon.

Being a Georgia Bulldog is great no matter from where you’re barking — but with COVID-19 vaccinations on the horizon, we hope to cheer together from between the hedges this fall. Go Dawgs!

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2020 Homecoming–this is normal, right?

November 13, 2020/by Frances Beusse

Homecoming–a time when UGA alumni gather to celebrate and return to their alma mater … but how do we do this in 2020? This year, instead of lining the streets of downtown Athens for the annual Homecoming parade or attending a tailgate hosted by your school or college, the UGA Alumni Association’s loyal volunteers and dedicated staff members have curated a week of virtual festivities to bring a little piece of the Arch to you (Nov. 16-21)!

For the Woman Who Wants to Serve

Monday, November 16 | Mentorship Monday | Women on Boards

UGA Alumni Association Vice President Yvette Daniels (AB ’86, JD ’89) will moderate a Mentorship Monday panel focused on women’s role as board members of community, nonprofit and for-profit boards–and how to find a board placement that’s right for you.

Register for Mentorship Monday

For the Nostalgic Football Fan

Tuesday, November 17 | Hunker Down & Huddle Up | Members of the 1980 Championship Football Team

UGA Alumni Association President Brian Dill (AB ’94, MBA ’19) will speak with members of UGA’s 1980 football team. Buck Belue (M ’82), Scott Williams (AB ’86), Frank Ros (BSED ’82, MED ’84) and Coach Vince Dooley will reminisce on the 1980 season, discuss their time at UGA, weigh in on this year’s team–and answer questions from alumni and fans.

Register for Hunker Down & Huddle Up

For Alumni Who Love History

Wednesday, November 18 | Monumental Discussions w/Sheffield Hale (AB ’82)

UGA’s Metro Atlanta Alumni Chapter will host a conversation with Sheffield Hale (AB ’82), president and CEO of the Atlanta History Center. Dawn D. Bennett-Alexander, associate professor of employment law and legal studies in the Terry College of Business, will moderate this discussion of historical facts and context around monuments, historic markers, and the meaning behind them.

Register for Monumental Discussions

For Alumni Who Could Use a Good Laugh

Thursday, November 19 | Between Two Hedges | Comedian Mia Jackson (AB ’00)

Atlanta-based comedian Mia Jackson (AB ’00) has opened for Amy Schumer, taped specials for EPIX and Comedy Central, and was a semi-finalize on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” The UGA Young Alumni Leadership Council will host this successful alumna for a discussion ‘Between Two Hedges.’

Register for Between Two Hedges

For Alumni Who Miss Tailgating–especially on Myers Quad

Saturday, November 21 | UGA Black Alumni (Virtual) Homecoming Tailgate
Saturday, November 21 | Homecoming @ Home w/UGA School of Law

Fire up your grill, gather your circle of friends or family, and tune in to this special pre-game show three hours prior to kickoff. The UGA Black Alumni Leadership Council is proud to bring the spirit and pride of the annual Black Alumni Homecoming Tailgate on Myers Quad into your living room. Then, switch on the TV to cheer for the Dawgs as they beat Mississippi State!

For all of those Law Dawgs out there, the School of Law is taking its annual tailgate virtual as well. Find all you need to know here.

Register for the Black Alumni Tailgate

For Alumni Who Are Busy Next Week

If you can’t make it next week, we have an ever-evolving lineup of virtual offerings for alumni throughout the year, including the Between the Pages virtual book club on December 2 (you don’t even have to read the book beforehand!) and a virtual edition of our annual holiday fundraiser, Cookies & Cocoa with Hairy Dawg. Hope to see you there!

Register for Between the Pages Register for Cookies & Cocoa w/Hairy Dawg Register for Who is Hiring Now?

In addition to these activities, there are a number of activities in which alumni can participate that are coordinated by UGA’s Homecoming Committee:

Dawg Dawg 5K (Sunday, 11/15) – A virtual 5K similar to our “Attack the Day 5K” this summer. Details here. Post your photos to social and tag @ugahomecoming.
Donation Drive (Monday-Thursday, 11/16-11/19) – Donate items for the Student Food Pantry, Professional Clothing Closet and/or Bulldog Basics in Tate Plaza from 10-4 each day.
School & College Day (Wednesday, 11/18) – Post on social why you love your UGA school/college. Tag @ugahomecoming to be featured!
Drive-In Movie (Friday, 11/20) – Catch a flick at the IM Fields Lot (E01) at 7 p.m.

From the Classic City to country music: Ray Fulcher on his latest release, Love Ya Son, Go Dawgs

October 14, 2020/by Frances Beusse

“Football at UGA is more than just a game or an event; it’s a lifestyle, it’s family, it’s engrained into our everyday life. This song hopefully captures that.” – Ray Fulcher (BSED ’08, MED ’10)

When country music singer/songwriter Ray Fulcher (BSED ’08, MED ’10) was majoring in education at UGA, he went to a concert that changed his life. Eric Church performing on the Georgia Theatre stage inspired Ray to pick up a guitar—and he hasn’t looked back. He’s now written four No.1 hits performed by Luke Combs and has released a new song with a nod to his alma mater.

Ray admits choosing a new—and less certain—career path was probably the “dumbest” thing he could do. He also knows that’s what makes it so worthwhile. His advice for students considering a major life change?

“Don’t be afraid to go after it. Know that it won’t be easy and forget the word ‘quit.’”

Ray co-wrote the chart-topping When it Rains, It Pours in 2017. His first call when he found out it hit No. 1 was to his parents. The Double Dawg values his family, who supported his pursuit of a career in music, and his alma mater; both loves are evident in his latest release, Love Ya Son, Go Dawgs. The song highlights the bond between father and son, and while Ray hopes Georgia fans can relate, he believes the song is universal.

When asked if he would take requests from fans to tweak the lyrics to feature other teams, Ray is quick to say, “They can sing whatever version they want, but I don’t think I could ever sing anything but ‘Dawgs.’”

Check out Ray’s new song above and enjoy a few of his favorite college memories from his time in Athens.

Rapid-Fire with Ray Fulcher

Top Sanford Stadium moment: 2007 Auburn blackout game
Most prized UGA possession: 2005 SEC championship ring (I was a student assistant then a graduate assistant for the football team from 2004-2010) *see photo below!
Favorite song in college: Rhett Akins “That Ain’t my Truck”
Favorite UGA/Athens musician: Bill Anderson (ABJ ’59)
Gameday hype song: The Battle Hymn!
Uga X or Hairy Dawg: Uga!
Score prediction for UGA vs. Bama: Dawgs on top 37-35

Ray shared a few photos from his time at UGA and on the road performing:

Get the UGA coloring pages you never knew you needed

August 7, 2019/by Zach Armstrong

These coloring pages are perfect for Bulldog fans of any age, whether you use them to distract a toddler, de-stress after a long day, or decorate your space with reminders of Athens. And yes, you can use more colors than just red and black … just no orange!

Show us your creativity by posting these on social media and tagging the UGA Alumni Association and be sure to include #AlwaysADawg.

Click on each of the following images to download them. Don’t worry; we’ve made them printer-friendly! [And we added a new option in Spring 2020].

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