Sanford Stadium has been the home of the Georgia Bulldogs since it first opened on the Athens campus in 1929.
The facility is named for Steadman Vincent Sanford. An English professor, Sanford was the founder of the university's journalism school, who became dean, university president and the institution's third chancellor.
As dean, Sanford campaigned for the football stadium and arranged the loan that financed its construction.
The initial cost of the 30,000 seat was $360,000. Throughout its history it has undergone several expansions. The first in 1940, adding 6,000 seats.
» Photos: Sanford Stadium through the years
Sanford now seats 92,746 and is the 10th largest stadium in college football.
From 1929 to 2018, the Bulldogs are 353-106-9 between the hedges.
The phrase "between the hedges," coined by Atlanta Journal sportswriter Grantland Rice, is synonymous with Georgia football. That's because hedges were part of the original field.
The privet Ligustrum hedges, which cover about 5,000 square feet around the playing field have survived disease, winter weather and more than one move.
The hedges are not just cosmetic there is a low chain-link fence running through the branches to aid in crowd control.
The hedges were moved out to make room for a soccer field during the 1996 Olympics and replanted before football season. The only other time the field has been without them was in 2017, when they were removed during its most current expansion.
In May 2019, plans were announced to name the field after legendary coach Vince Dooley. Dooley coached the Bulldogs from 1963 to 1989, winning the national championship in 1980.
Sanford Stadium is the final resting place for each deceased English Bulldog that has served as the team's mascot since 1956.
The mausoleum has been moved twice since 1981 to its current location near Gate 9 of Sanford Stadium. The mausoleum includes an epitaph of each Uga’s tenure.
READ MORE
» UGA to name field in honor of Vince Dooley on Sept. 7
» Dooley Field: An honor UGA's coach with most wins never saw coming
» Field dedication means even more to Vince Dooley's family
» Mark Bradley on Dooley: A great coach and way more than that
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