Few moments rival the electric atmosphere of Sanford Stadium as 93,000 voices cheer for the Dawgs in unison. In that sea of red and black, there is an indelible spirit that has endured through generations of Bulldogs. It’s not just about the game on the field — it’s legacy, tradition and a homecoming for all those Bulldogs who return to Athens for the unforgettable experience that only UGA can deliver.
In honor of UGA’s 103rd Homecoming, let’s take a look at the origins of UGA’s Spirit Team, the force behind that Bulldog energy and how it has evolved over the years.
Woman holding Mike the Bulldog. Mike was one of the pre-Uga mascots. He served as mascot from 1951-1955 and lived in the Athletics field house.
The Beginning
UGA spirit runs deep; tracing back to the 1890s and the beginnings of athletics at the university.
One of the first spirit groups on campus called themselves the Lung Brigade, made up of students who would go to games and other athletic events with a singular mission: to yell their lungs out for the Dawgs. With that signature Bulldog pride and homemade cheers, these committed students would forever shape what would eventually become the cheerleading team.
Group posing with what is believed to be the goat who attended the first two football games.
Red and Black article published calling UGA’s team the “Georgia Wildcats.”
Uga I on the sidelines of Sanford Stadium sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s.
Georgia songs and yells from the 1903 Georgia-Auburn game day program.
Cheerleaders in the 1970s. This was in the time before ‘Dawgs’ became the colloquial spelling for Dogs.
Rallying the Crowd
By the 1930s, the cheerleaders became an official staple of the game day experience.
For them, there’s always been a classic, timeless look that has become the inspiration for many young Bulldogs’ game day outfits. The uniform, the pom-poms, the pearls and most importantly, the signature red lip, do more than create an iconic look — they are a visual representation of the care and dedication these students have to supporting other student-athletes and maintaining good vibes, no matter the situation.
Whether it’s a Sunday afternoon volleyball game or a sold-out crowd under the Sanford Stadium lights, the cheerleaders bring the same unwavering energy and excitement. Rain or shine. Big stage or small. They are always there to rally the crowd and keep the Bulldog spirit alive.
Cheerleaders cheer from the sidelines during the 2023 Ball State football game.
Fighting Like Bulldogs
Believe it or not, the first real nickname for the football team was the Wildcats. But, for reasons obvious to us in hindsight, “Georgia Wildcats” just didn’t seem to encapsulate the tenacious, determined spirit of the university.
That all changed when UGA played a tough game against the University of Virginia that ended in a 0-0 tie, after which the Atlanta Journal-Constitution described UGA as fighting “like bulldogs.” The football team voted to change the mascot to a bulldog, the name stuck, and the Bulldog legacy was born.
The Dawg Behind the Legacy
The university’s longest standing and most beloved mascot is, of course, Uga, the English bulldog who has been a game day fixture in Sanford Stadium since 1955. It all started with Uga I, who watched UGA win an SEC championship. Since then, each generation of Uga has carried a unique name and legacy of loyalty.
Today, we cheer for Uga XI, affectionately known as “Boom,” who was officially collared during the 2023 G-Day game.
The best part about Uga? It’s not just Bulldog Nation that loves him! In 1997, Sports Illustrated highlighted his appearance on the cover and declared him as the best college mascot. And that legacy is still going strong. Just this year, Uga was ranked #1 in the Live Animal Division by ESPN.
Uga’s pull extends far beyond Athens and even into Hollywood. Uga V, also known as UGA IV’s Magillicuddy II (yes, really) and the same Uga featured on the cover of SI, made a cameo in Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Not bad for a “Junkyard Dawg.”
Uga V appears along costar John Cusack in 1997’s ‘Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.’
When UGA Meets Hairy
Hairy Dawg’s iconic debut came in an equally iconic year for UGA, 1980, and has brought a new level of Bulldog spirit and intensity to the mascot game ever since.
But he wasn’t always UGA’s most-recognized mascot. Before Hairy, there was Fluffie Dog, a gray Bulldog that didn’t quite capture the signature grit of the university.
To reflect the 1980 football team’s ferocity, Hairy Dawg was designed to represent a tougher, grittier embodiment of those “Junkyard Dawgs.”
And today, Hairy is everywhere: hyping up crowds at sporting events, starring in commercials and representing UGA across the country.
From left to right: Fluffie Dog, Hairy Dawg, Frankie Dog, and Uga (bottom center) as pictured in the 1986 edition of Pandora.
Serving a Spike
That giant inflatable bulldog bouncing around the crowd in Stegeman Coliseum? Well, that can only be Spike.
Introduced in 1998 to serve (wink, wink) as the volleyball team’s mascot, hence the name, Spike quickly became a fan favorite. Now, you can find this iconic mascot bringing a whimsical sort of Bulldog spirit to basketball games, gymnastics meets, and yes, volleyball matches, too!
Spike with students during Stegmania.
From Gits to Golden
Before the Dance Dawgs, there were the Gits — the first dance line in the SEC, founded in 1959. They evolved through the decades: performing at basketball games in 1966 as the Go Girls, then the Hot Shots, before officially becoming the Dance Dawgs in 1999 under UGA’s Athletics Department. Today, the Dance Dawgs continue and not only for those in the collegiate dance team, but with a spirited alumni group for dancers 55 years old and above: the Golden Dawgs.
Made up of former Go Girls, Hot Shots or Dance Dawgs, you may be lucky enough to spot the group during UGA’s Homecoming parade and game.
A group of spirit alumni as seen in a 1986 edition of Pandora.
Alumni cheerleaders show their spirit during the 2018 UGA vs. Vanderbilt Homecoming game. (Photo: Dorothy Kozlowski)
Dance Dawgs during the women’s basketball home opener against Coastal Carolina at Stegeman Coliseum.
Alumni cheerleaders cheer during the 2018 UGA vs. Vanderbilt Homecoming game. (Photo: Dorothy Kozlowski)
“A way for people to come home.”
These groups have become a mainstay of the UGA experience, and Homecoming provides an opportunity for everyone to gather and bask in the Bulldog spirit.
Alumni cheerleaders appear in the 2003 Homecoming parade.
“It’s a way for people to come home,” says Jason Hasty, historian and archivist for UGA Athletics. “So many folks go to school here and then they go away, but Athens is always part of their life.”
“People spend their formative years on campus, and they develop a deep love for UGA and for Athens.”
That deep love for UGA and for the time spent on campus, comes from looking forward to the day when passing through the Arch is no longer a superstition about the future, but a symbol of the years of hard work and growth that happens on this campus. That is the heartbeat of Bulldog Nation. As UGA grows and continues to look forward into the future, the Spirit Team — in all its iterations — remains a timeless thread, connecting generations of Bulldogs and keeping the red-and-black spirit alive.
Historical photos generously provided by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library at the University of Georgia.
