WALB.com News, Weather and Sports for Albany, Valdosta and Thomasville. Leading the way for South Georgia. | Fans mourning the loss of Uga VII
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By Christy Hutchings - bio | email
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - It’s a story getting a lot of attention around the world, the death of a beloved mascot. Uga VII, the mascot of the University of Georgia Bulldogs died Thursday. Uga just stepped into to the college football spotlight a little more than a year ago.
"I was shocked,” said Georgia fan Ryan Connelly. “It was pretty disappointing to hear."
Chris Whitaker, also a Georgia fan, agrees. "Although he's just a mascot, he really does embody the years, the tradition, and you do get attached to them," said Whitaker.
Both Connelly and Whitaker didn’t know Uga personally, but Cliff McCurry did. McCurry has had the opportunity to meet all the Ugas. He lived right by the Seiler’s, the family who owns the Uga bloodline. "My youngest son used to love him and take his friends over to the house to play with Uga. They'd come spend the night and Mrs. Seiler would always get a poster for the boys, put the paw print on the poster, and you thought they met superman," said McCurry.
Uga is pretty close to Superman. After all, he did grace the cover of a pretty popular magazine. "Sports Illustrated named him the greatest mascot of the year and I think that's something to be pretty proud of," said McCurry.
Georgia won't have a Uga on the field for this Saturday's game, so the team and fans will have to go without their beloved friend. "Hopefully they can win it out for him," said Georgia fan Ryan Williams.
"I hope it fires them up,” said McCurry. “Hopefully that's going to fire the team up for the next two weeks."
"It'll be pretty weird to not have him out there," said Connelly.
The Kentucky Wildcats may not know what they're up against, now that the Dawgs are down.
The Savannah Chapter of the UGA Alumni Association is encouraging fans to donate blood at the Georgia- Florida blood drive on Wednesday in honor of Uga VII. Also, on Wednesday at the American Red Cross Donor Center, fans can sign a condolence book for the Seiler’s and children are encouraged to draw pictures of Uga VII, which will also be given to the Seiler family.
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