From Cubs to Bruins: The evolution of a collegiate identity
In short: UCLA's iconic identity wasn't born in a vacuum. The school's transition from the 'Cubs' to the 'Bruins' reflects a complex history of conference realignments, mascot migrations, and a shifting visual palette that eventually defined one of the most decorated athletic programs in American history.
The UCLA identity has undergone several distinct transformations since the school's founding in 1919. Originally known as the 'Cubs' due to its junior status relative to the California Bears in Berkeley, the football team adopted the 'Grizzlies' nickname in 1923. It wasn't until 1926, the same year the school adopted the name 'University of California, Los Angeles,' that the 'Bruins' moniker was officially established. This period also saw the school join the Pacific Coast Conference, the predecessor to the Pac-12.
The visual identity of the Bruins is equally storied. Early on, the school shared the University of California, Berkeley colors of Yale Blue and gold. This changed in 1949 when coach Red Sanders introduced 'powder-keg blue' to improve visibility on the field and in film. The school's color palette has since fluctuated between 'True Blue' (2003–2017) and 'UCLA Blue,' a hue chosen to symbolize the ocean and wildflowers, while the gold reflects the California poppy and sunsets.
The mascot's history is marked by a literal migration of animals. In the 1930s, the school rented live bears for home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. This practice faded by the 1950s, replaced by 'Little Joe Bruin,' a Himalayan bear cub from India that eventually became too large for campus and was moved to a circus. By 1963, the school transitioned to a costumed mascot, Joe Bruin, and later introduced Josephine 'Josie' Bruin in 1967, the first female student to hold the role.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: UCLA Bruins
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