Having represented the University of Georgia (UGA) Bulldogs on the sidelines for eight consecutive football seasons, UGA X, or Que, is considered to be the winningest dog in history; however, UGA’s English bulldog mascot sadly passed away in his sleep at ten years old on Jan. 23, leaving college football fans all over the country in mourning.
“He will always be remembered as a Damn Good Dawg,” the official Georgia Bulldogs account said in a post on the social media platform X.
Que’s collaring ceremony, or his inauguration as the official UGA X mascot, took place on Nov. 15 in 2015, and since then, he has certainly earned his title as college football’s most successful dog. Throughout his eight-season career, UGA football racked up two national championship trophies, a win record of 91-18, and two Southeastern Conference titles, all of which are quite notable achievements by themselves, let alone all together. While UGA X ended up retiring his jersey in 2022 to UGA XI, or Boom, fans have surely not forgotten Que’s memorable time with the Bulldogs.
“UGA X was on the sidelines for the most successful run in Georgia Bulldog history. While on his watch from the sidelines, the Bulldogs won two national championships, two sectional titles, and made seven New Year’s Six Bowl appearances. Rest easy, UGA X. Go Dawgs,” Kade Bridgette, sophomore, said.
Since 1956, UGA has dedicated a line of white English bulldogs to represent their school, with Que being just one of eleven to serve. The Frank W. “Sonny” Seiler family have owned these spike-collared dogs for all 68 years, and they have taken great care of these mascots even after death, dedicating marble vaults to each passed pet just outside Georgia’s Sanford stadium. UGA demonstrates just how much they care about these dogs by placing flowers on their graves prior to each home game as well as writing epitaphs for each that visitors and fans can admire and remember their service by.
“UGA is such an icon of the school and is the focal point of school spirit! UGA X will definitely go down as one of the best dawgs,” Mikayla Parks, senior, said.
As Boom, a one-year-old English Bulldog, has already been inaugurated as UGA XI, the mascot tradition will live on, even with the saddening loss; however, with Boom’s predecessor having quite the record under his belt, he has a lot of weight on his shoulders to bring UGA more trophies to add to their shelves. Boom made his debut as UGA XI in Sept. 2023, and he has so far stood on the sidelines for nine UGA wins in Sanford Stadium.
“I think with Boom as the new UGA XI, it is almost like a clean slate for Georgia as a team. It is very exciting to have a bulldog that is peppy and young again, and I think that is exactly what the football team needs to do well throughout their season. For me, it is very exciting,” Hadley May, junior, said.
While UGA has yet to announce when they will be holding a funeral for Que, fans have taken to social media to express just how much they will miss their beloved mascot.
