Uga XI, Georgia’s Beloved Mascot, Skips Texas Showdown Due to Travel Challenges

Georgia‘s famed live mascot, Uga XI, will not accompany the team to Texas for their upcoming game, according to his owner, Charles Seiler. Speaking to the Austin American-Statesman, Seiler explained that the logistical challenges of traveling with the 2½-year-old English bulldog were too great to overcome. “That’s a lot of wear and tear on the dog,” Seiler noted, highlighting the difficulties associated with the long-distance trip from Savannah to Austin.

This announcement means there will be no repeat of the memorable 2019 encounter between Uga and Texas’ longhorn steer mascot, Bevo, which occurred during a pre-game photo opportunity at the Sugar Bowl. In that incident, Bevo knocked over a barricade and seemed to charge at the bulldog, but neither mascot was injured. Uga X, known affectionately as “Que,” passed away in January, marking the end of an era for Georgia’s mascot lineage.

Seiler described the arduous journey that would be required if Uga XI were to attend the game. “Savannah to Austin is about 1,100 miles,” he stated. Moreover, Seiler would have to travel five hours to Athens, Georgia, to fly with the football team, an endeavor he deemed too taxing, especially given his age. “The worst part is coming back,” Seiler explained. “When the sun is coming up, I’ve got to get back in the car. That was okay when I was a younger man, but I’m 64 now.”

According to Seiler, transporting Uga by air poses its challenges, as the dog would have to fly in the cargo section like any other pet, which Seiler categorically refused to do. “That’s kind of a no-go,” he commented. Even the prospect of taking Uga on a private flight was deemed impractical due to the difficulties of ground transportation upon arrival and walking the dog outside of hotels.

In a related dialogue, Seiler mentioned he had communicated with Ricky Brennes, executive director of the Silver Spurs Alumni Association responsible for Bevo, about the decision. Dispelling any notion of Uga avoiding another clash with Bevo, Seiler said, “My dog grew up on a cotton farm in Moultrie, Georgia, with Longhorn steers. There were big fences, and my dogs are used to cows, so we had no problem.”