Hairy Dawg’s Origin Story: An Oral History

Dr. Stan Beecham – the Original Hairy Dawg

Originally, a high school kid in Athens was going to wear the Hairy Dawg costume at the 1981 Sugar Bowl. I was a JV cheerleader and the JV cheerleaders didn’t get to travel to away games.

I didn’t like that idea. I thought a UGA student should wear the Hairy Dawg costume.

And in fact, between the debut at practice and the Sugar Bowl, the costume was in my room in my parents house. I mean, I physically had possession of it.

So I talked to Tom about this. And I said, you know, I’ve been doing all this stuff with you guys, I’d really like to wear the costume and go to the game.

So, I talked to Coach Mike and he said, we don’t really have the budget for an additional student to come down there, you know, this guy’s kid’s gonna do it.

But, I was a hard-headed SOB, and I really wanted to do it. I had possession of the costume, so I basically relayed to Coach Mike that if the costume was gonna be at the game, I was going to bring it and wear it.

Tom Sapp – Creator of Hairy Dawg

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Coach Mike Castronis. And a lot of people may know who Coach Mike is, but he was really one of the nicest people ever on this planet, him and his family. Could not have treated us better.

Stan Beecham

Coach Mike was the sweetest guy and, you know, he basically said, okay. He was not happy with it, of course – I gave him a hard time the whole three years as a cheerleader, I’m sure he was glad to see me go (laughing).

I ended up catching a ride with some family in their RV. I can’t even remember their names, but they were so nice.

I knew all the cheerleaders because I was a cheerleader, so when we got there, I just slept on the floor in one of the cheerleader’s rooms and that that’s how I ended up wearing it. I basically took Hairy Dawg hostage.