Down to the wire: UGA says Chapel Bell ready to ring Saturday after early repair

ATHENS — For a few hours on Friday, it seemed the Chapel Bell would be silent after Georgia football’s likely win in Saturday’s season opener.

Early in the day the University of Georgia said the campus bell — which Bulldog fans have been ringing for more than a century after football wins — would not be available after rot was discovered in its wooden support beams. Engineers had been scheduled to assess the tower housing the bell next week.

But on Friday afternoon, the university reversed course, saying repairs were completed ahead of schedule and the bell would be ready to ring after Saturday’s game against Marshall at Sanford Stadium.

The Chapel Bell, perched on the University of Georgia’s North Campus near The Arch, was originally used to call students to class in the 1800s. The bell’s first documented football celebration came after Georgia’s 10-8 win over rival Auburn in 1894.

UGA's Chapel Bell originally summoned students to class. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

The Red & Black, UGA’s student newspaper, described the scene after the 1894 victory:

“The people of Athens awaited the arrival of the party at the Athens depot with a brass band and plenty of enthusiasm. Merchants opened their stores and told the boys to help themselves to boxes. Soon a large bonfire lighted up the campus, the college (bell) rang on the night air and the college yell was heard on every hand. The night had far spent itself when the last echo of the bell was heard and the dying embers of the great bonfire was all that was left to remind the passer by that the great day was over. Georgia had triumphed!”