University of Georgia Bulldogs mascot. Uga III was known as the National Championship Dog. He was present for Georgia football's finest moment as the Bulldogs in 1980 completed a perfect season and after winning the New Years Day Sugar Bowl were declared National Champions. His final official function was the Sugar Bowl. He accompanied the 1980 championship team and Georgia coaches to the State Capitol in Atlanta to be recognized by the Georgia General Assembly. In his nine year tenure, he represented the Bulldogs in six bowl games and closed out his career on the 100th football game of his reign. During the season opener in 1981, with Uga III present, IV was trotted out on to the center of the field and the spike collar became his. Uga III died just weeks later. Cecelia Seiler, who spends more time than anyone with Uga, determines which dog in a litter should be the next mascot. Through diet and more selective breeding by picking smaller dogs, each successive puppy has been reduced in size. Uga I was an 80-pound porker. Uga III was a 50 pounder displaying a shapely lean body and rippling muscles. A desired effect was achieved and the mascot epitomized the team he represented...a fierce rough and tumble football squad. A legacy and tradition was born... Sonny Seiler, then a law student at Georgia, and fellow student Cecelia received the original Uga as a wedding gift in 1955. They never realized they would change the identity of the university forever. Cecelia bought a child's red T-shirt at J.C. Penney, sewed on elastic and a hand crafted black G and simply walked the puppy around Sanford Stadium. At the request of university officials, they agreed to allow the animal to be the official team mascot and would bring the dog to all football games and school functions where the new mascot was needed. The name Uga was created from the university's acronym, UGA. However, as the dog was a pet, he would live with the couple at their home in Savannah. The Uga dynasty was born and the Seiler's have provided a mascot to the University, from the line, for over fifty years. Ultimately, upon the death of a Uga, he is placed in his own marble crypt at the Uga Mausoleum which is located inside Sanford Stadium near the main entrance. The University of Georgia is the only major college that actually buries its mascots within the confines of a stadium. The Aggies of Texas A&M have a burial site for its mascots but is located outside their stadium. Before each home game, flowers are placed at the site. The memorial plot attracts thousands of fans and visitors each year.