Uga V Biting Auburn WR Robert Baker photo.
Uga V dramatically lunged and attempted to bite an Auburn player in this classic 1996 photo. Auburn appeared to have the game under control on the Plains of Auburn on this day, but Uga V took matters into his on hands (or teeth). The Georgia Bulldogs, inspired by their fearless mascot, staged an amazing comeback, tying the game on the last play of regulation.
On the final play of the first quarter in the 1996 Auburn-Georgia game, Auburn running back Robert Baker scored on a 6-yard pass, putting Georgia behind 14-7. But, before Baker could celebrate, he was retreating.
As the Auburn player reached the back of the end zone, Uga V leaped forward, perched on his hind legs and straining at his leash. The dog's lunge forced Baker into a defensive dance step that made him appear as if he was trying to avoid an open manhole during a full sprint.
Whether he was being playful, as Charles Seiler contends, or protective, as suggested by Cecelia Seiler, Uga had an instant identity, a sudden individuality not enjoyed by any of his predecessors.
"His incredible reaction in the Auburn game separated him from the other Ugas," said Dooley. "No other dog had ever expressed himself in such a competitive way as he did in a ball game that caught a lot of national attention."
The response to Uga V's action that day was both swift and sure.
The video became an instant highlight and continues to be shown on stadium scoreboard screens. Requests for a still photo of the incident-taken at precisely the time at which Uga and baker were at the height of their reactions-began reaching the Montgomery Advertiser, where the photo appeared, and the University of Georgia Sports Information office the next day and have not stopped.
After receiving 1,000 reprint requests during the first three weeks-presumably from Auburn haters as well as Georgia lovers-the newspaper established an independent ordering system solely for that picture.
"It felt like we were in the full-time UGA business," said Paula Moore, the Advertiser's executive editor.
The demand continued and, a week before 1997 game, the Advertiser contacted Felton, Georgia's sports information director since 1979, and asked him to inform future callers to his office that no more reprints could be produced.
Apparently, the negative had been irreparably damaged by the 3,000 copies that had been made. The newspaper has declined another 2,000 reprint requests since it stopped selling copies.
"The response was amazing," said Ken Roberts, the Advertiser's assistant city editor. "It was crushing workload to process all those requests. I can't think of anything else that would remotely rival that interest. Second place would be about 15 or 20 requests."
The Auburn photo had differing impacts on two of its principals.
Photographer Patricia Miklik earned no money from her shot because it was considered company property. She eventually took a job with the Huntsville News, meanwhile Uga V went from ordinary mascot to extraordinary star.
"Before that, I would say this Uga wasn't any more popular than any others. His dad was the one that received all the attention," said Felton.
"I think the Uga-Auburn incident kind of started a 12-month snowball for Uga V that led up the Sports Illustrated cover and then the movie. Those three incidents created a lot of national attention in a short period of time and, in between, this dog is still doing all the things involving the athletic teams and the university that all the other dogs have done."
After Georgia scored on a one-yard Torin Kirtsey run to open the fourth overtime period, Auburn's Dameyune Craig was tackled one yard short of a first down on fourth-and-three from the 18. Craig and Auburn began the game hot, building a 28-7 lead with six minutes remaining in the first half. Craig tossed three touchdown passes, including a pair to Robert Baker, in directing Auburn's first-half assault.
Auburn still led, 28-14, entering the fourth quarter, but Georgia's Mike Bobo hit Hines Ward on a 67-yard touchdown pass early in the final quarter to make it a seven-point game. That score held until the Bulldogs marched 82 yards on nine plays in the game's final 67 seconds to tie the game. Georgia's tying score came on a 30-yard pass from Bobo to Corey Allen on the final play of regulation.
Craig opened the overtime with a 13-yard run, but Georgia's Robert Edwards, who ran for just 12 yards on six carries during regulation, scored the first of his three overtime TDs on a nine-yard jaunt. In the second OT, Auburn answered a five-yard Edwards run with a three-yard score by Fred Beasley. Craig snuck in from the one in the third overtime, while Edwards scored from the nine. Edwards ran 10 times for 62 yards in overtime.
The 1996 Auburn-Georgia game, the 100th in the series, became a battle for the history books. Remembered well by Auburn and Georgia fans alike, the game was the first SEC game ever to go into overtime. Rallying from a 21-point first half deficit, Georgia won 56-49 in four overtime periods.