University of Georgia Football Facts
|
- Georgia's first football season: The University fielded its first football team in 1892 and beat
Mercer 50-0.
- Georgia’s longest standing rivalry (Auburn) was initiated in the second and final game of the
1892 season. UGA lost that initial contest 10-0, but the series lived on and is now known as the
“Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.”
- Georgia’s top rivalries are annual games played against Auburn, Georgia Tech and Florida. Each
rivalry is more than a century old.
- UGA Conference Affiliation: has played in the SEC Conference since 1932 and has won 12
conference championships.
- Bulldogs home stadium: Georgia moved its football games from Herty Field to Sanford Field in
1911. That facility is now known as Sanford Stadium and its capacity of 92,746, makes one of the
largest stadiums in college football.
- UGA Mascot: The University of Georgia has one of college football’s most beloved mascots. The
English Bulldogs named Uga have served the school since 1956. Deceased Ugas are interred in
a mausoleum at Sanford Stadium. The Uga mascots have been recognized for the popularity
including once being featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “College Football’s Best
Mascot.”
- Top University of Georgia coaches: Wally Butts and Vince Dooley are two coaches who greatly
shaped the legacy of UGA football traditions. Butts coached the Bulldogs for 21 seasons (1939-
1960) and earned a 140-86-9 record. Butts’ 1942 squad was recognized by six polls as college
football’s national champion. Vince Dooley took the coaching reins in 1964 and guided UGA until
1988. Dooley’s teams posted a 201-77-10 record. Dooley’s teams won six SEC Championships
and the 1980 national championship. Current Bulldogs head football coach Mark Richt ranks third
on Georgia’s all-time coaching victories list. Richt became the program’s 25th head coach in
2001.
- University of Georgia Heisman Trophy winners: The UGA football program has produced two
Heisman Trophy winners. Frank Sinkwich won the award in 1942 and Herschel Walker ran for
honor in 1982.
- Georgia Bulldog players that became NFL MVP's: Fran Tarkenton (1975 - Minnesota Vikings),
Terrell Davis (1998 - Denver Broncos)
- Georgia football uniform history: The Georgia “G” helmet logo appeared in 1964 when new head
coach Vince Dooley selected it along with a red helmet for a new uniform design.
- Bulldogs Silver Britches tradition: are another important of Georgia Bulldogs football history.
The striking pants matched with a bright red jersey were generated at the request of head coach
Wally Butts when he took over as coach in 1939. The pants were popular for years and “Silver
Britches” was often used in UGA cheers. The silver pants faded away in 1964 when Coach Vince
Dooley redesigned the school’s uniform. However Dooley brought back the silver tradition in
1980, just before the team launched its national championship season.
- Georgia’s fight song :“Glory, Glory.”
|
|
