After two terms as the University of Georgia’s interim mascot, “Russ” will be promoted to Uga IX, the school announced today.
Georgia, in a news release, termed it a “battlefield promotion.”
Ceremonies will be held before the Sept. 15 game against Florida Atlantic to crown Russ, the 8-year-old half-brother of Uga VII, as the next in Georgia’s continuous 56-year line of official English Bulldog mascots.
“Like many great and memorable Bulldogs, Russ has earned the opportunity to serve in this capacity,” UGA president Michael Adams said in a statement. “I am confident that he will represent the Bulldog Nation very well and continue the grand tradition of Ugas.”
Russ first served as interim mascot following the November 2009 death of Uga VII, filling in for the final two games of that season and the first six games of 2010. Georgia turned the job over to Uga VIII in the middle of the 2010 season but again called on Russ when illness sidelined the new mascot from the 2010 Liberty Bowl. After the February 2011 death of Uga VIII, Russ remained in the role of interim mascot for all of last season.
Georgia is 14-9 with Russ on the job.
