| Traditions | |
- “Glory, Glory”: One of UGA’s oldest traditions is the singing of our school fight song, “Glory, Glory,” which is sung to the tune of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Depending on our opponent, improvisations in the last line of the song may resound from the stands. The line is supposed to go “G-E-O-R-G-I-A,” but sometimes becomes “And to hell with Flo-ri-da,” or something along those lines.
- “How ‘Bout Them Dogs”: This line has become the battle cry of Dawg fans. It is believed to have originated in the 1970s and gained momentum when a major wire service picked it up after Georgia beat Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl and claimed the national championship. Many newspapers thereafter used it as a headline.
- The Arch: The arch is located at the edge of North Campus, facing downtown Athens. It was installed in 1864, and remains today. The Arch is also the official emblem of the University of Georgia, appearing on official documents and Georgia merchandise. Originally, freshmen were forbidden to walk under the arch. Nowadays, anyone can walk under it, but there are mythical consequences. Supposedly, any undergraduate who walks under the Arch will not graduate and will become infertile. You will see most people choosing to walk around the Arch if you watch closely.
- Bulldogs: The term “Georgia Bulldogs” came from an article written in 1920. First it was a nickname, believed to pay tribute to Yale University where our first president, Abraham Baldwin, attended college. On November 3, 1920, Morgan Blake of the Atlanta Journal wrote, “The Georgia Bulldog would sound good because there is a certain dignity about a bulldog, as well as ferocity.” Three days later, on November 6, 1920, after a UGA football game, Cliff Wheatley used the name “Bulldogs” five times in his story, and we’ve been known as the Bulldogs ever since.
- The Chapel Bell: Georgia fans ring the chapel bell after a Georgia football victory. This tradition began in the 1890s, and used to be a chore reserved for freshmen. Now, however, students and alumni eagerly rush to the Chapel after a football victory for a chance to ring the chapel bell. At orientation, incoming freshmen get to ring the bell.
- The Georgia “G” : The Georgia ”G” was originally designed by head football coach Vince Dooley in 1964. Dooley liked the look of the “G” on helmets worn by the Green Bay Packers, and designed Georgia’s “G” accordingly, though utilizing a different color scheme. The design features a black oval “G” surrounded by a white oval background. A white stripe encircles the “G” over the top. A smaller black stripe was added inside the white stripe over the top in 1996 by new head football coach Jim Donnan.
- The Hedges: The hedges in Sanford Stadium have been standing proudly since its dedication in 1929. “Between the hedges” is a phrase supposedly originating from Atlanta writer Grantland Rice when he said of an upcoming game, “that the Bulldogs will have their opponent ‘between the hedges.’”
- Homecoming: Every year before Homecoming, numerous student groups sneak out to Sanford Drive late at night and paint their group’s homecoming theme on the street in front of Sanford Stadium. The designs are always bright and bold, and last for months afterwards. There is also a big homecoming parade downtown during Homecoming week. Students and locals always flock to catch candy and see the floats. Onlookers can also get a glimpse of everyone’s favorite bulldog, Uga.
- Uga: Voted the best mascot in the country by Sports Illustrated, Uga comes from a long line of bulldogs owned by Frank W. “Sonny” Sieler of Savannah, GA. The current line began with Uga I, a solid white English Bulldog, the grandson of a former Georgia mascot. The most famous Uga was Uga V, who actually appeared in the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” He also posed for the cover of Sports Illustrated when he was named the best mascot in the nation. We are now up to Uga VI. All the Uga’s lived in Savannah, and travel to Athens for football games.
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