What You Should Know About Football Georgia Bulldogs

Introduction

Located in Athens, Georgia, the University of Georgia is a large, public university that was founded in 1785. It is said to be the oldest university in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest higher learning institutions in the entire United States. Academics aside, one of the reasons many people love the University of Georgia is because of the school's football team, the Georgia Bulldogs.

Today, the Georgia Bulldogs play football in Sanford Stadium, which is located on the University of Georgia's campus. The team is part of the National Collegiate Athletic Association and plays in the infamous Southeastern Conference or SEC. Team colors are red and black, and the mascot is a little white English bulldog named Uga. Here is a look at the history and everything else you need to know about Georgia Bulldogs football.

 

 

History

The first University of Georgia football team was formed in 1892. Coached by chemistry Professor Charles Herty, the team played one of its first games against Auburn University in what is known today as the “Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.”

Over the next few decades, the Georgia Bulldogs football program grew and underwent many changes, and it was almost even made to disband. After the death of a player, the state legislature attempted to ban the sport from the state of Georgia, but the governor vetoed the bill. In 1910, the Bulldogs began to play in Sanford Field. In 1927, the team won its first national championship.

The Georgia Bulldogs also played under numerous coaches during this time, but two of the most popular from this era were Harry Mehre and Wally Butts. By 1964, Vince Dooley took over Georgia Bulldogs football coaching duties and held the position longer than any other man. After 24 years under Dooley, Ray Goff and Jim Donnan each had a turn at the wheel, but since 2001, Mark Richt has been the Bulldogs’ leader. Under Richt, Georgia has won two SEC Championships and six SEC East Division Championships.

Features and Facts

Here are some things you may not know about the University of Georgia’s Bulldogs football team:

The team did not become the Bulldogs until 1920, when numerous local sportswriters began calling them by that name. Before that, they were known as the “Red and Black” (now the team’s official colors). In more modern times, fans have taken to calling the team the “Dawgs,” a take-off on the Bulldogs name as it might be pronounced with a Southern accent.

Georgia’s three main rivals are the Auburn Tigers, the Florida Gators and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The in-state rivalry between Georgia and Georgia Tech has been referred to as “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” for many years.

Sanford Stadium, where the Bulldogs play today, can hold up to 92,746 people. It is one of the largest stadiums in the entire world. After each Bulldogs victory, students and alumni ring the campus chapel bell near the stadium to celebrate the win.

The school’s famous rally song, Glory, Glory, was fashioned to the tune of the song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Students have been singing it since the 1890s, but in 1915, an official version was penned by Hugh Hodgson, a professor at the University of Georgia.

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