Pac-12 Power Rankings: Uniform Edition, Part 2
By George Means
3. UCLA Bruins – True Blue and Gold
October 12, 2013; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Shaquelle Evans (1) celebrates after he runs the ball to score a touchdown against the California Golden Bears during the second half at the Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The striped jerseys are as identifiable as any helmet logo. That’s good because the script UCLA is horrible.
The lazy logo looks great on a Brooklyn Dodgers jersey, but Cal, UCLA, and Washington State (thank God that has been seemingly abandoned in Pullman), have all put it to use on their helmets.
UCLA has shown us that uniform identification and greatness goes beyond logos or flash. The light blue and gold lends itself to the Rose Bowl as much as maize and blue lend themselves to the Big House.
UCLA’s mascot history is somewhat compelling. The Bruin was adopted in 1926 when UCLA joined the Pacific Coast Conference. Until that point UCLA was the Grizzlies.
The California Grizzley (aka Golden Bear), had gone extinct four years before. Joining the PCC in ’26 (then comprised of the other Pac-8 schools plus Montana and Idaho), UCLA was matched with another Grizzley in the University of Montana.
The notoriously strict PCC forced UCLA to change its name, which proved serendipitous, as now the Bruins stand alone with their mascot in FBS football.