Apparently the cause for the delay in naming the new Uga had less to do with finding a replacement and more to do with Georgia actually considering a request to replace the famed mascot with a robotic alternative.
PETA requested Georgia switch from a live dog on the sidelines to a robotic one after Uga VII passed away last November. At the time, the school made no remarks about the likelihood of taking the request under consideration, but a source within the administrations now tells me they're preparing to do exactly that.
Reports indicate that several prototype mascots were created by engineering students at Georgia Tech in a secret competition to build the new Uga robot. All Tech students who participated in the contest were first obligated to sign a confidentiality notice before they were even fully informed of the aim of the contest.
I'm stunned by the news, but the source giving me the information has always been credible in the past.
Live dogs have been a presence on the Georgia field for more than half a century, so the change would no doubt meet with an intense backlash from fans, but marketing consultant April Scherz said she sees some opportunity for the school, too.
"From a marketing standpoint, I'm sure plenty of people will be tuning in to get a look at the robotic dog," Sherz said. "It's a chance for Georgia to change its image and set a new standard on how the school reacts to public sentiment."
Or it could be a complete disaster.
Obviously none of this is finalized yet, but a deal on the new robot could be struck as early as next week.
Let's wait and see how this plays out, but my guess is this would be one more nail in Michael Adams' coffin with fans following the new tailgating restrictions announced last month.
Sonny Seiler was not available for comment.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
24 comments:
David,
Please tell us this is your April's Fool Day joke before I blow a gasket and say things in an email to Adams that I may later regret!
Yes, look at the first letter of each paragraph.
I believed this until I got to the label. Don't know if it because it was well written and reported or if it just didn't surprise me that Michael Adams would do something like this.
ASyracuse PWILLR Iwin Lthe NatiFonal OChampionship Oin fooLtball thisS year.
Not quite as good as yours Dave
Pretty good stuff Dave....you almost had me.
In today's political environment, it wouldn't really surprise me that much!
Nice one, DH, nice one.
Well played, sir.
I hear that the robotic UGA will learn to hunker down from a Tibetan monk, and will have a 130-mph fastball.
Bravo, Sir...Bravo.
I read today that Florida is doing away the Gator nickname and changing their name to the Florida Tebows. The administration is in talks with Tim to work a deal to have him on the sidelines dressed in a superman costume. They want him to change his name to Uf and start working of little Uf's to replace him when he gets fat.
April Scherz. Nicely done.
Sidd Finch lives on
this BETTER be a joke. Georgia Tech building our mascot? id kill myself.
I'm amazed at the number of people who apparently don't own a calendar. :)
@Anon 10:29
Agreed. How much dumber can people get? They probably also thought Google actually changed their name to Topeka.
I don't think it's that people are dumb, I think it's that nothing is unbelievable anymore, especially when it comes to administration...
Well done- David - well done
Siddhartha - LMAO remembering that one.
I'd guess some of the contributors here at too young to have experienced good old Sid and his magic fastball.
You had me going 'til I got to the part of Tech students being involved in the design of the robot, then I caught on. I shoulda been expecting this today. So, when is #34 coming back for his senior year?
That was a good one... in today's world of Political Correctness run amuck, I was starting to buy this story until the part about Tech students signing a confidentiality agreement.
david,
Uga is more sacred than timmy tebow will ever be...lets hope the uga brass (adams) has a better since of humor than corch meyers...other wise you better get ready to be taken to the cleaners...you're a bad guy.
.............jerk. I didn't catch on until I saw the tags section haha
Dave,
Was this your inspiration?
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/10/27/schwarzeneggers-veto-message-delivers-another-message/
That's a good one from my favorite Bulldog reporter. A Robotic Bulldog built by Georgia Tech. You really had me going straight to comments with an attitude. Thanks for all the great reports and I forgive you for raising my Blood Pressure. I'm not a fan of the Politically Correct and PETA. Get us a Big Old Hug-gable Bulldog and everybody will be happy.
Post a Comment