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The A in UGA
Posted on 6/21/18 at 11:24 am
Posted on 6/21/18 at 11:24 am
I know a lot of people say the reason we throw the A on the end is because of the abbreviation derived from the postal code. I had an econ prof that would give a brief history lesson at the beginning of every class. He said it was because in the early days, there was a small satellite campus somewhere else, so the A was a reference to Athens. This explanation makes more sense than the more common one, especially considering postal codes weren't standardized until the 1950s. I really can't find information on either explanation, though. I'm sorry I didn't take better notes on that day.
Anyone else have any info?
Anyone else have any info?
3
Posted on 6/21/18 at 11:38 am to FinleyStreet
It just sounds better.
"Where's your kid going to school?"
"Oh, he's going to yoo jee."
"Eugene?"
"Where's your kid going to school?"
"Oh, he's going to yoo jee."
"Eugene?"
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:01 pm to FinleyStreet
quote:
I know a lot of people say the reason we throw the A on the end is because of the abbreviation derived from the postal code.
quote:
especially considering postal codes weren't standardized until the 1950s.
I think probably it was the postal codes deriving their abbreviation from the already common "Ga" abbreviation, rather than the other way around.
First thing that comes to mind is if you look at the battle flags of Georgia regiments, etc in early 1860's, a lot of them used the abbreviation "Ga" for Georgia.
I bet "GA" came about as just a common abbreviation in shorthand to save ink and featherpens because email didn't exist and you had to ride a horse on a journey to go buy them from writing. So, in a way, GA is like lol, omg, etc but instead of just being shorthand for saving time from writing it all out, GA was also about conserving scarce writing supplies.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 12:31 pm to Jefferson Dawg
The plot thickens:
I have this book of original correspondence between politically incorrect Georgians from the early 1800's that will probably be illegal in 5 or ten years. And sometimes they would abbreviate Georgia as "GA." or "Ga.", but other times "Geo.", and then when writing to other people inside their own country (aka Georgia), they'd just use the city name. So, I don't know.
We're going to need to figure this out thaough.
I have this book of original correspondence between politically incorrect Georgians from the early 1800's that will probably be illegal in 5 or ten years. And sometimes they would abbreviate Georgia as "GA." or "Ga.", but other times "Geo.", and then when writing to other people inside their own country (aka Georgia), they'd just use the city name. So, I don't know.
We're going to need to figure this out thaough.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 1:18 pm to h0bnail
quote:
Where's your kid going to school?"
"Oh, he's going to yoo jee."
"Eugene?"
I always just say "Georgia." Come to think of it I rarely say "UGA".
Posted on 6/21/18 at 1:26 pm to FinleyStreet
I was gonna drop the prof a note because I miraculously remembered his name. But he's dead, apparently. :(
Posted on 6/21/18 at 3:36 pm to FinleyStreet
I'm reading the original charter for the University of Georgia for the first time from 1785. Check this out...
(Also, keep in mind that this was only a couple years removed from fighting a bloody war of secession to gain Independence for Georgia)....
Cliff notes from the Preamble:
-prosperity and even existence depends upon forming the minds and morals of Citizens
-When the Minds of people are unprincipled and their Conduct disorderly, a free government will be attended with greater Confusions and with Evils more horrid than the wild, uncultivated State of Nature
-This Country (meaning Georgia) in the times of our common danger and distress found such Security in the principles and abilities which wise regulations had before established in the minds of our countrymen (meaning fellow Georgians)
-that our present happiness (Independence) joined to pleasing prospects should conspire to make us feel ourselves under the strongest obligation to form the youth, THE RISING HOPE OF OUR LAND to render the like glorious & essential Services to our country (aka Georgia)
Translation:
-If we are going to make the bloody sacrifices of the Revolution worth their while, and if we're going to maintain our hard-fought independence and prevent being subjugated once again in the future, and if we are to prosper and thrive...…..we must cultivate an educated citizenry instead of a bunch of moronic know-nothing clueless zombie dipshits
My my my. How we have epically failed to do any of that and so we've become just what they didn't want us to.
Sorry, sirs. We suck severely and ruined your dreams.
(Also, keep in mind that this was only a couple years removed from fighting a bloody war of secession to gain Independence for Georgia)....
Cliff notes from the Preamble:
-prosperity and even existence depends upon forming the minds and morals of Citizens
-When the Minds of people are unprincipled and their Conduct disorderly, a free government will be attended with greater Confusions and with Evils more horrid than the wild, uncultivated State of Nature
-This Country (meaning Georgia) in the times of our common danger and distress found such Security in the principles and abilities which wise regulations had before established in the minds of our countrymen (meaning fellow Georgians)
-that our present happiness (Independence) joined to pleasing prospects should conspire to make us feel ourselves under the strongest obligation to form the youth, THE RISING HOPE OF OUR LAND to render the like glorious & essential Services to our country (aka Georgia)
Translation:
-If we are going to make the bloody sacrifices of the Revolution worth their while, and if we're going to maintain our hard-fought independence and prevent being subjugated once again in the future, and if we are to prosper and thrive...…..we must cultivate an educated citizenry instead of a bunch of moronic know-nothing clueless zombie dipshits
My my my. How we have epically failed to do any of that and so we've become just what they didn't want us to.
Sorry, sirs. We suck severely and ruined your dreams.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 3:46 pm to FinleyStreet
Anyway, that was just a sidenote. We need to figure out when the schools as a whole began being referred to as UGA.
The words "University of Georgia" were used in the original charter, but the whole experiment started out with separate colleges.
So, basically someone in 1880 would say they went to Franklin College. But, someone today getting a useless English degree on the part of campus called Franklin College will say they go to UGA.
The words "University of Georgia" were used in the original charter, but the whole experiment started out with separate colleges.
So, basically someone in 1880 would say they went to Franklin College. But, someone today getting a useless English degree on the part of campus called Franklin College will say they go to UGA.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 3:57 pm to Jefferson Dawg
All I know is that it bothers me that Gator people constantly refer to us as "UG" on a regular basis.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 4:39 pm to FinleyStreet
Trandel?
Posted on 6/21/18 at 5:12 pm to HinesvilleThrill
So, when you're lost at sea, one thing to do is try to plot some location points you're certain about, and to give you the general area you are located in...
So, using mascots, we know the following:
-1892: there's a goat at the first ever Georgia football game. Wearing a black coat, with red letters on each side spelling "U.G."
-Not "UGA", but "UG"
-1956: the Seiler bulldog debuts at first game of season. And a dude from Columbus suggests the name "Uga", after the school's nickname.
-Not "Ug", but "Uga"
So, the answer to our mystery of when the A was added lies somewhere between 1892 and 1956.
So, using mascots, we know the following:
-1892: there's a goat at the first ever Georgia football game. Wearing a black coat, with red letters on each side spelling "U.G."
-Not "UGA", but "UG"
-1956: the Seiler bulldog debuts at first game of season. And a dude from Columbus suggests the name "Uga", after the school's nickname.
-Not "Ug", but "Uga"
So, the answer to our mystery of when the A was added lies somewhere between 1892 and 1956.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 5:49 pm to HinesvilleThrill
quote:
Trandel?
Yes.
One of y'all kids needs to give me your Galileo login so I can research.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 5:51 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:
1892: there's a goat at the first ever Georgia football game. Wearing a black coat, with red letters on each side spelling "U.G."
-Not "UGA", but "UG"
Well, that will make some of the Florida fans happy since some of them will type UG
Posted on 6/21/18 at 6:28 pm to FinleyStreet
I ran across my arches email account the other day. I had completely forgotten about that.
I had to write my senior thesis for Trandel in 2001. When did you have him?
I had to write my senior thesis for Trandel in 2001. When did you have him?
Posted on 6/21/18 at 8:15 pm to HinesvilleThrill
Either '01 or '02.
Posted on 6/21/18 at 8:38 pm to FinleyStreet
My account should still be active for another 11 months. Whatcha offering?
Posted on 6/21/18 at 10:10 pm to DirtyDawg
I have no evidence of this yet, but I will bet 20 bit-Plaques right now that the mystery of the A has to do with the creation of the Georgia Board of Regents in 1932.
Posted on 6/22/18 at 9:41 am to FinleyStreet
You are correct, the A stands for Athens.
It used to be a trivia questions in a lot of classes in the business school.
It used to be a trivia questions in a lot of classes in the business school.
Posted on 6/22/18 at 12:20 pm to VoxDawg
quote:
All I know is that it bothers me that Gator people constantly refer to us as "UG" on a regular basis
I actually think it's funny that the A bothers them so much. It absolutely chaps their asses and I never knew that before this website.
Posted on 6/22/18 at 12:22 pm to Jefferson Dawg
quote:
I have no evidence of this yet, but I will bet 20 bit-Plaques right now that the mystery of the A has to do with the creation of the Georgia Board of Regents in 1932.
Why is that
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