UCLA Mascot: History + Fun Facts

UCLA is known for its powerhouse athletics, strong academics, and energetic school spirit. At the center of that Bruin pride are Joe and Josie Bruin, the university’s beloved bear mascots who appear at games, rallies, and campus events throughout the year.

But how did UCLA end up with a bear mascot? And why are students and fans called Bruins instead of Grizzlies? The story behind the UCLA mascot goes back nearly a century and is closely tied to the university’s history, traditions, and identity.

In this guide, we’ll explore the history of the UCLA mascot, how Joe and Josie Bruin became campus icons, and a few fun facts you may not know about these famous bears.

• Who Is the UCLA Mascot?
• Fun Facts about the UCLA Mascot
• How to Become Joe or Josie Bruin
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

Who Is the UCLA Mascot?

The UCLA mascot is Joe Bruin, an energetic brown bear who represents the university’s athletic teams and school spirit. He’s joined by Josephine “Josie” Bruin, his female counterpart, making UCLA one of the few universities with a pair of official mascots. Together, Joe and Josie appear at athletic events, rallies, alumni gatherings, and campus celebrations throughout the year.

The name “Bruin” is an old term for a brown bear, and UCLA officially adopted it in 1926 after the university went through several mascot ideas during its early years. Today, Joe Bruin is one of the most recognizable college mascots in the country and plays a major role in UCLA traditions and game-day culture.

Joe’s current costume design, introduced in 1996, features a more athletic and muscular look that reflects UCLA’s competitive sports culture. Both Joe and Josie are portrayed by UCLA students, and the students behind the costumes traditionally keep their identities secret until they graduate.

Whether leading the famous eight-clap cheer at Pauley Pavilion or energizing fans at the Rose Bowl Stadium, Joe Bruin has become a symbol of UCLA pride, tradition, and school spirit.

Fun Facts about the UCLA Mascot

From live bears and secret mascot traditions to one of college sports’ biggest rivalries, Joe and Josie Bruin have a surprisingly entertaining history. Here are ten fun facts that show why the UCLA mascot is one of the most recognizable in college athletics.

1. UCLA’s first mascot was a stray dog named Rags.

Before the Bruin era began, UCLA had a very different mascot: a stray dog named Rags. When the school was founded in 1919, the scruffy dog wandered onto campus and quickly became a favorite among students and faculty.

A campus gardener reportedly found Rags near the grounds of the old Normal School, and the dog soon became an unofficial symbol of school spirit. Rags was even featured in the student newspaper, the Cub Californian, and continued appearing in the school’s yearbook through the early 1920s.

Even though students loved him, UCLA eventually wanted a mascot that felt stronger and more connected to the university’s growing athletic identity. As the school worked to establish itself separately from the University of California, Berkeley, the search for a new mascot began, and it turned into one of the more unusual mascot selection stories in college sports.

2. Berkeley gave UCLA the “Bruin” name.

Choosing the UCLA mascot was not a simple process. In the mid-1920s, students voted to replace the original Cub identity with something fiercer: the Grizzlies. The change became so official that the student newspaper temporarily renamed itself the “California Grizzly.”

But the name didn’t last long. When UCLA tried to join the Pacific Coast Conference in 1926, the University of Montana objected because its athletic teams already used the Grizzly name. The dispute forced UCLA students to start over and consider new mascot ideas, including Buccaneers, Panthers, and Gorillas.

The final solution came from the University of California, Berkeley. Berkeley had long used both “Bears” and “Bruins” as nicknames, and its student leaders agreed to let UCLA adopt the Bruin name. In October 1926, UCLA officially became the Bruins, and the next day, the student newspaper renamed itself the “Daily Bruin,” a title it still uses today.

3. UCLA rented live bears from Hollywood studios for football games.

Once the Bruin name was set, the question became: how do you bring a bear to a football game? In the 1930s, UCLA did exactly that, renting live bears from local Hollywood studios to roam the sidelines of home football games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

As dramatic as it sounds, actual bears appeared on the sidelines during games and quickly became part of the fan experience. The tradition helped build excitement around UCLA athletics and made the Bruin identity feel larger than life.

Eventually, however, the Coliseum banned live animals from sporting events, forcing UCLA to end the practice. Even so, students remained attached to the idea of having a real Bruin presence at games, which eventually inspired the next phase of the university’s mascot history.

4. Little Joe Bruin was smuggled around campus in secret locations.

After live bears were banned from games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, students and alumni still wanted a real Bruin connected to the university. In 1950, UCLA purchased a Himalayan bear cub from India and named him Little Joe Bruin.

The challenge was figuring out where to keep him. Because there was no permanent space for a live bear on campus, students and alumni reportedly moved Little Joe between different hidden locations around Westwood as he grew larger. Eventually, the cub became too difficult to manage and was transferred to a circus.

A few years later, alumni tried again with a female bear named Josephine Bruin. She initially lived in the backyard of the UCLA Rally Committee chairman before eventually being relocated to the San Diego Zoo. After multiple attempts to keep live bears, UCLA ultimately decided that costumed mascots were a much more practical solution.

5. The first costumed Joe Bruin eventually became a professor.

The costumed version of Joe Bruin officially debuted in 1963, but the early days were far from polished. UCLA student Charles Dennis became the first person to wear the Joe Bruin costume after being recruited by UCLA’s head cheerleader.

During football games, Dennis performed stunts and entertained crowds on the sidelines while carrying a balsa wood staff. There was just one major problem: the oversized mascot head constantly fogged up his glasses, making it nearly impossible for him to see.

Dennis later joked that fans thought his clumsy movements were part of the performance, when in reality he could barely see where he was going. Even with the costume issues, students immediately embraced the new mascot, helping establish Joe Bruin as a permanent part of UCLA game-day traditions.

Years later, Dennis became a professor at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, giving him a unique place in UCLA history both as an educator and as the university’s first costumed Bruin.

6. Playing Joe Bruin can be physically exhausting.

Wearing the Joe Bruin costume is much more demanding than it looks. Former UCLA mascot performer Devon Smith reportedly lost 27 pounds during the 1987 football season because of the intense physical demands of performing in the suit.

The costume is heavy, especially the oversized mascot head, and many appearances take place outdoors in Southern California heat. Between football games, rallies, and campus events, portraying Joe Bruin requires constant movement, high energy, and long hours in difficult conditions.

Earlier mascot performers described the role as even more physically challenging. Steve Halpern, who portrayed Joe Bruin from 1968 to 1972, later recalled that performers sometimes took salt pills to avoid fainting from heat exhaustion inside the costume.

Even with the physical strain, many former performers say being Joe Bruin was one of the most memorable and rewarding parts of their UCLA experience.

7. The Bruin Bear statue was once the largest bear sculpture in the U.S.

In 1984, the UCLA Alumni Association gifted the university a massive bronze Bruin Bear statue to celebrate the association’s 50th anniversary. The statue was unveiled in Bruin Plaza before a crowd of alumni and quickly became one of the university’s most recognizable landmarks.

At the time, the sculpture was considered the largest bear statue in the United States. Measuring about 10 feet long and weighing more than two tons, the statue instantly became a centerpiece of campus life.

Today, the Bruin Bear statue is one of the most photographed locations at UCLA. Many students rub the bear’s nose for good luck before exams, and it has become a popular meeting point and photo spot during campus tours and Bruin Day events.

8. The Bruin Bear is a top target in the UCLA-USC rivalry.

The rivalry between UCLA and USC extends far beyond football games, and the Bruin Bear statue often ends up at the center of it.

During rivalry week each year, UCLA students traditionally cover the statue in protective tarp with signs joking that “The Bruin Bear is Hibernating” to prevent prank attempts from USC fans. USC students have similar traditions surrounding their own campus landmarks, especially the famous Tommy Trojan statue.

Even with those precautions, the Bruin Bear has still been vandalized multiple times over the years. In several incidents, the statue was spray-painted in USC’s cardinal and gold colors, leading to expensive cleanup and restoration efforts. Messages related to the rivalry have also appeared on the statue during major football matchups.

Over time, protecting the Bruin Bear has become its own UCLA tradition. Students often take turns guarding the statue during rivalry week, turning the ongoing mascot battle into one of the more entertaining parts of the UCLA–USC rivalry.

9. Joe Bruin had a dance-off on national television.

Joe Bruin’s school spirit has reached far beyond campus. In 2015, the UCLA mascot appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a televised dance-off against USC’s mascot Tommy Trojan, bringing the rivalry to a national audience in a much lighter setting.

The segment featured the two mascots competing in front of the live studio crowd, and UCLA later joked in its official coverage that everyone already knew who won the showdown.

Joe Bruin has also represented UCLA at major national events outside of sports. In 2012, the mascot appeared in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade alongside legendary UCLA alumnus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, helping bring Bruin pride to millions of viewers across the country.

From college football games to national television appearances, Joe Bruin has become one of the most recognizable mascots in college athletics.

10. The current costume took 10 months and $40,000 to design.

The modern Joe and Josie Bruin costumes debuted in 1996 after UCLA completed a major mascot redesign project. The process reportedly took about 10 months and involved collaboration between university representatives and a professional design firm.

The redesign cost around $40,000 and introduced a much more athletic look for the mascots. Earlier versions of Joe Bruin had a softer and more cartoon-like appearance, while the updated design emphasized strength, energy, and school spirit.

The current Joe Bruin costume features a muscular build, oversized proportions, and a more intense expression meant to reflect UCLA’s competitive athletic culture. The goal was to create a mascot that looked less playful and more like a symbol of the university’s powerhouse sports programs.

Over the decades, Joe Bruin has evolved from simple early mascot sketches into one of the most recognizable figures in college athletics and campus culture.

How to Become Joe or Josie Bruin

Interested in becoming the UCLA mascot? Joe and Josie Bruin are part of the UCLA Spirit Squad, which also includes the university’s cheer and dance teams. Each year, six Joes and six Josies are selected for the mascot program.

Like other Spirit Squad positions, mascot roles are earned through a competitive audition process. Returning members must also audition again annually and are not guaranteed a spot on the team.

Trying out

Mascot auditions take place as part of UCLA Spirit Squad tryouts. Students are evaluated on their physical performance, crowd engagement, and ability to bring the character to life without speaking. Because Joe and Josie never talk while in costume, performers rely heavily on body language, expressions, and improvisation to interact with fans.

During tryouts, candidates are expected to perform the fight song, lead a cheer, and pitch an original mascot skit idea. Applicants also participate in a group interview, deliver a 45-second personal statement, and answer several interview questions as part of the selection process.

Judges look for students who can stay energetic, think quickly, and remain fully in character during performances. Some applicants come from dance, cheer, theater, or athletics backgrounds, while others develop mascot skills through the tryout process itself.

More than anything, performers need to capture the personality of Joe or Josie Bruin: enthusiastic, entertaining, and highly interactive with the crowd.

Responsibilities and duties

Students selected for the mascot program perform at football and basketball games, campus traditions, alumni events, community outreach appearances, and other university celebrations throughout the year.

As mentioned earlier, the role is physically demanding. Performers spend hours wearing a heavy mascot costume, including an oversized head, while dancing, cheering, posing for photos, and interacting with large crowds, often in warm weather conditions.

Like many college mascot programs, UCLA keeps the identities of Joe and Josie performers private during their time in the role. Multiple students rotate through mascot duties each season, and each performer brings their own personality and performance style while maintaining the traditions of the Bruin character.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the UCLA mascot name?

The UCLA mascot is named Joe Bruin. He’s a brown bear who represents UCLA’s athletic teams and school spirit at games and campus events. Joe is joined by Josephine “Josie” Bruin, his female counterpart, and together they are known as the Bruins.

2. What are UCLA’s colors and mascot?

UCLA’s official colors are blue and gold, and the university mascot is Joe Bruin. The blue is meant to represent the ocean and California wildflowers, while the gold reflects the California poppy, sunsets, and the “Golden State” identity.

3. What does the UCLA mascot logo look like?

The UCLA mascot logo typically features a muscular bear design based on Joe Bruin’s modern appearance. The university introduced the current athletic-style look during a major mascot redesign in 1996, giving Joe a more competitive and energetic image. UCLA also continues to use retro Bruin artwork inspired by earlier mascot designs from past decades.

4. Why is UCLA called the Bruins?

UCLA officially adopted the Bruin name in 1926 after previously using both Cubs and Grizzlies as mascot ideas. The Grizzly name was eventually dropped after objections from the University of Montana. University of California, Berkeley later allowed UCLA to use the Bruin name.

5. Is the UCLA mascot always played by the same student?

No. Multiple UCLA students share the roles of Joe and Josie Bruin throughout the year. The mascot program is part of the UCLA Spirit Squad, and performers rotate appearances across games, rallies, and university events.

Takeaways

• The UCLA mascot is Joe Bruin, a brown bear who has represented the university since UCLA officially adopted the Bruin name in 1926.
• Before the costumed mascot era began in the 1960s, UCLA’s mascot history included a stray campus dog and even real bear cubs temporarily cared for by students and alumni.
• Joe is joined by Josephine “Josie” Bruin, making UCLA one of the few major universities with a pair of official costumed mascots.
• The current Joe and Josie designs debuted in 1996 after a major redesign project that gave the mascots a more athletic and energetic appearance.
• Hoping to rep the blue and gold yourself one day? Work with a college admissions expert to put together your strongest possible UCLA application.