Mark Richt sounded like a mascot coach talking about Georgia's newest Uga.

Russ, an 8-year-old bulldog, will be formally introduced as Uga IX during a ceremony Saturday before seventh-ranked Georgia hosts Florida Atlantic. The canine previously served two terms as interim mascot.

With tongue planted firmly in cheek, Richt said Tuesday that Russ "could have gotten bitter with everyone saying he couldn't get it done." But, like a player who's told he's not good enough to start, Russ "bowed his neck and won the job."

The coach adds with a smile, "I'm proud of him."

Richt isn't the first Georgia coach to offer up a humorous assessment of the mascot position. Back in the 1980s, Vince Dooley taped a television segment praising a dog that filled in for Uga