UGA Mascots and Some Key Players They Saw Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Uga I: His name was "Hood's Ole Dan" and he served the role as University of Georgia mascot from 1956-1966. During his reign, he saw a quarterback help the Bulldogs win the SEC Championship in 1959. This player would go on to play 18 years in the NFL, most of it with the Minnesota Vikings. Who is this Pro Bowler, author, television personality, and entrepreneur?

Answer: Fran Tarkenton

Uga I got to see Fran Tarkenton, who grew up in Athens, Georgia near the University of Georgia, enter that school in 1957 and lead it to several wins. On November 14, 1959 Tarkenton threw a touchdown pass with seconds left in the game to win the SEC Championship against rival Auburn University.

He would go on to play many years in the NFL, leading both the Vikings and the Giants over 18 seasons. With over 3,600 completed passes in his career and known as a successful scrambling quarterback, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

After retirement, he went on to write several books, to appear as a commentator on television, and to found a successful and lucrative computer software company. Uga I, buried at the university with an epitaph of "Damn Good Dog", would have been proud of Tarkenton's legacy!

2. Uga II: Named "Ole Dan's Uga", he served as the mascot from 1966 to 1972. During his tenure, he saw the football team win two SEC championships and, in 1968, have an undefeated season until the Sugar Bowl. During that same year, a player for the team won the Outland Trophy for the best college football lineman. Who was this defensive player who would go on to be a part of the "No Named Defense" on the champion Miami Dolphin team?

Answer: William "Bill" Stanfill

Bill Stanfill lived in Cairo, Georgia and went to school at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. He was a defensive tackle there from 1966 to 1968 and, in his final year, won both the Outland Trophy and was named All American. That same 1968 season saw the Georgia team have an undefeated record until they lost to Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl. Stanfill went to play for the Miami Dolphins.

He was there, under Coach Don Shula, when they had an undefeated season in 1972 and won the Super Bowl.

After retiring from the game in 1976, he moved back to his home state of Georgia and suffered from numerous medical conditions resulting from his football injuries. In 1998 he was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame. Uga II, who passed away after the 1972 season, had seen his football teams go to five bowl games.

His epitaph reads "Not Bad For a Dog".

3. Uga III: The dog named "Seiler's Uga Three" served the role as mascot from 1972 through the 1980 season. During this time, he saw the football team garner 2 SEC championships and a 1980 National Championship title. One of the teammates who helped spur on the victories was a running back who, in 1980, became the first true freshman to be named All American. Who is this player who would later lend his skills to the United States Football League, the NFL, and even the Olympics?

Answer: Herschel Walker

Herschel Walker was raised in Wrightsville, Georgia where he was a star athlete on the high school track and football teams. He was drafted to the University of Georgia where he quickly became the leading running back. In his freshman year, in 1980, he helped lead the team to an undefeated season, a Sugar Bowl win over Notre Dame, and a National Championship.

He would play several more seasons and gain a Heisman Trophy in 1982. He left college in 1983 to play several years in the USFL for the New Jersey Generals.

In 1986 he began an eleven year career playing in the NFL for a variety of teams while setting records and attending two Pro Bowls. In 1992 he took time off to join the US Olympic bobsledding team. After retirement he focused on business endeavors, working on his martial arts practice, and appearing on a variety of cooking shows. Uga III finished up his mascot career during his 100th game and died a few weeks later where his epitaph at the university reads "How 'Bout This Dawg".

4. Uga IV: This dog in the lineage was named "Seiler's Uga Four" and served in his role from 1981 through the 1989 season. During this period of time, he saw the team win two SEC championships and saw his team go to a bowl game each year of his tenure. He also witnessed a kicker set a multitude of records including kicking 11 field goals over 50 yards each and being named the first kicker ever to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. Who is this player who would later go on to score even more milestones as a kicker for the Chicago Bears and Arizona Cardinals?

Answer: Kevin Butler

Kevin Butler grew up near Stone Mountain, Georgia and went on to attend the University of Georgia at the urging of football coach Vince Dooley. During his time there, he helped take the team to two SEC championships, booted multiple 50-plus yard field goals, and set an NCAA record of 27 games with multiple field goals.

As Rex Robinson stated, "The first time I saw him kick, I knew the records weren't safe." Butler went on to play in the NFL for eleven years with the Chicago Bears where he booted three field goals in the 1985 Super Bowl to help the Bears win.

He finished up with the Arizona Cardinals and had over 1,200 points during his career. He retired and went on to work with the special teams back at his UGA alma mater. Meanwhile, Uga IV was given a Georgia varsity letter after he passed away and his epitaph reads "The Dog Of The Decade".

5. Uga V: The dog known as "Uga IV's Magilicuddy II" was the mascot from 1990 to 1999. He was featured in a movie, on Sports Illustrated in 1997 as "The Nation's Best College Mascot", and in a famous photo. In fact, he is very synonymous with Robert Baker of an opposing team. When Baker, a wide receiver, made a touchdown in the first quarter of a 1996 game against Georgia, Uga V lunged at him and the photo became the symbol of the "Deep South's Oldest Rivalry". What team did Baker represent?

Answer: Auburn University

Auburn University and the University of Georgia have played each other since 1892. They have faced one another every year except for those times interrupted by wars. Both have been power houses in the Southeastern Conference and almost every one of those years at least one of the two rival teams were in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

In 1996, Auburn receiver Robert Baker caught a touchdown pass in the first quarter and landed near the spot where Uga V was located. The dog lunged at Baker and the moment was captured on a photograph by Patricia Doyle that has been circulated around the world and has come to represent the decades-old rivalry between the schools. Georgia went on to win the game in four overtimes. Even Uga V's epitaph refers to that instant in time as his monument reads "Defender Of His Turf".

6. Uga VI: This dog, named "Uga V's Whatchagot Loran", served from 1999-2008 and set records as the heaviest mascot thus far at 65 pounds and also the UGA mascot with the most wins in his career at a record of 87-27. During his time on the sidelines, he saw a UGA running back rush for over 100 yards a game and join Herschel Walker in his record of rushing over 1000 yards in the freshman year. Who is this record breaker who left after his second year in 2008 and went on to amass more kudos during his time with the Denver Broncos?

Answer: Knowshon Moreno

Knowshon Moreno lived in Bedford, New Jersey, where he was a star on both the football and track teams. Recruited by many colleges, he selected the University of Georgia in 2006. Coming into 2007 as a red shirt freshman, he proceeded to average around 105 rushing yards each game and tied Herschel Walker's record of rushing over 1000 yards in the first year.

After two seasons he entered the NFL draft and was selected by the Denver Broncos. He performed very well for them and in 2013 he became the first Bronco in their history to rush for over 1000 yards AND to receive for over 500 yards in a single season.

He finished up his career in 2014 while playing for the Miami Dolphins. Uga VI had presided over two SEC championship games and two Sugar Bowl appearances during his tenure.

His epitaph reads "A Big Dog For A Big Job, And He Handled It Well".

7. Uga VII: The bulldog named "Loran's Best" had a very short stint as mascot, serving only the 2008 season and part of 2009. In his brief tenure, he saw a UGA quarterback that would set a number of records as he took the team to three bowls. He received many awards, including Most Valuable Player of the January 2009 Capital One bowl. Who is this team leader, who would go on to continue his record-breaking ways as quarterback for the Detroit Lions?

Answer: Matthew Stafford

Matt Stafford went to high school near Dallas, Texas where he was considered one of the top rated quarterbacks in the country. When he graduated high school early, he decided to attend the University of Georgia, where his father had gone to graduate school years before. Matt was the first player in fifteen years, as quarterback, to start directly out of high school.

He set many "firsts" during his years at Georgia, including garnering the most passing touchdowns in a season when he threw for 25 touchdowns in 2008.

After three years, he entered the NFL draft and was the #1 pick in 2009 when he was chosen by the Detroit Lions. Over eight years with the Lions, Stafford has set over 30 records for both the team and the NFL. For instance, he became the first NFL player ever to complete 60% or more passes in a season. Uga VII, unfortunately, died very unexpectedly in 2009 before a home game and was honored at the game and then buried with the epitaph "Gone Too Soon".

8. Uga VIII: The mascot named "Big Bad Bruce" served in his role for the 2010 season. During that year, he saw a star receiver continually add to the record books for things like having over 50 catches for more than 900 yards in a season. Who is this player who would go on to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011 and make a name for himself with that team?

Answer: AJ Green

AJ Green was a star receiver at his school in Summerville, South Carolina, where he generated over 250 high school career receptions. After graduation in 2008, he went to the University of Georgia to play under coach Mark Richt. He played at UGA for three years and continuously made the record books.

He was also voted by the SEC coaches as Freshman of the Year in his first season. By 2011, he had made the decision to enter the NFL draft and he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals. Together, he and the Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton quickly achieved the accomplishment of having the most yards in receptions for a freshman duo. Green continued to work hard each year and was rewarded with multiple Pro Bowl appearances.

Unfortunately, for Uga VIII, he was diagnosed with canine lymphoma immediately after the 2010 season and died in the spring of 2011.

His epitaph reads "He Never Had A Chance".

9. Uga IX: The dog known simply as "Russ" officially served from 2012 through part of 2015 but was a substitute mascot for several of his predecessors as they battled illnesses. During Russ's reign, he was witness to a running back who would rush for over 2,000 yards cumulatively in his first two years. Who is this football and track star who would be drafted in the NFL by the Rams in 2015?

Answer: Todd Gurley

Todd Gurley went to high school in Tarboro, North Carolina, where he was a star of the football, the track, and the basketball teams. When he graduated in 2012, he headed to the University of Georgia. In his freshman year alone, he rushed for over 1,300 yards and almost broke 1,000 yards his sophomore year. Meanwhile, he was also competing on the university track team.

After a rough junior year, which saw him plagued with NCAA violations and some injuries, he entered the NFL draft. He was picked up the St. Louis Rams in 2015 and performed exceptionally well as a freshman.

He did so well he was one of a only a handful of first-year players to go to the 2016 Pro Bowl. Uga IX, unique in both looks with his brown markings and in his role as an oft-used interim, died peacefully in his 11th year of life just prior to Christmas of 2015.

10. Uga X: The bulldog named "Que" began his mascot career in the mid-2015 season. While he roamed the sidelines, he got to witness another strong running back who, despite playing only eight games in his freshman year, finished second in the SEC with over 1500 rushing yards in 2014 earning him that year's SEC Freshman of the Year. Who is this star athlete and student who would go on to have a great 2016 season, despite a grave injury in mid-2015?

Answer: Nick Chubb

Nick Chubb went to high school in Cedartown, Georgia, where he, like many of his predecessors, played both football and track. In 2014, he went to college at the University of Georgia where he had to step in and play for a suspended first-string running back.

Despite playing only a partial season, he was second in the SEC with rushing yards that year and was the Belk Bowl MVP at the conclusion of the season. In the 2015 season, he was on his way to set records for numbers of games played with over 100 yards rushing each when he got a season-ending leg injury.

He did not let that deter him, however, and returned for the 2016 season to end up being the third highest rusher of all time for UGA in a single season with over 3000 yards.

Source: Author stephgm67

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Since 1956, the University of Georgia has boasted some of the cutest mascots around in the form of a live English bulldog nicknamed Uga. Each generation of the lineage has seen some great players during their reign. Let's learn a little more.

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