Joe Bruin
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| Joe Bruin | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | Joe Bruin |
| University | University of California, Los Angeles |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Description | Anthropomorphic brown bear |
| First seen | 1924 |
| Related mascots | Josephine Bruin |
| Origin of name | Coined by students |
Joe Bruin. Joe Bruin is the official mascot of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), representing the institution's athletic teams and spirit. An anthropomorphic brown bear, he serves alongside his female counterpart, Josephine Bruin, as a central figure in campus traditions and NCAA athletics. The mascot is a beloved symbol for the UCLA Bruins, appearing at sporting events, community functions, and in various media.
History
The selection of a bear as the university's symbol dates to 1919, following UCLA's move to its Westwood campus and its entry into intercollegiate athletics. Students chose "Bruins" over alternatives like "Cubs" through a campus-wide vote reported in the Daily Bruin student newspaper. The live bear mascot era began in 1924 with a California grizzly bear named "Little Joe," who was housed at the Los Angeles Zoo. Subsequent live bears, including a Kodiak bear named "Josephine," presented logistical and safety challenges, leading to their retirement by the late 1940s. The costumed Joe Bruin character debuted in the 1960s, with the first official performer appearing at the 1963 Rose Bowl; the character was later joined by Josephine Bruin in 1967 to create the current mascot pair.
Appearance and symbolism
Joe Bruin is depicted as a friendly, muscular brown bear, typically wearing a blue or gold UCLA football jersey emblazoned with the number "1". His design emphasizes approachability and strength, aligning with the ferocity and pride associated with the UCLA Bruins nickname. The color scheme directly incorporates the university's official colors of "True Blue" and gold, as established by the University of California system. His visual identity is maintained consistently across official merchandise, graphic design materials, and the UCLA Trademarks & Licensing office to ensure brand uniformity. The mascot's form is a stylized representation of the North American brown bear, an animal historically native to the state of California.
Mascot duties and appearances
Joe Bruin's primary role is to generate spirit and rally support for UCLA's athletic teams at events such as Pauley Pavilion for basketball and the Rose Bowl for football. He performs choreographed routines with the UCLA Spirit Squad and the UCLA Bruin Marching Band during timeouts and halftimes. The mascot is a fixture at major university events including UCLA Homecoming and graduation ceremonies, and makes extensive community outreach visits to local schools, hospitals, and Los Angeles charity functions. Joe and Josephine Bruin are also regular participants in the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and have made appearances on television shows like ESPN's College GameDay and at NCAA Division I championship tournaments.
In popular culture
The image of Joe Bruin has been featured in numerous video games, including the NCAA Football and NCAA Basketball series by EA Sports. The mascot appears in various forms of animation and has been referenced in episodes of television series set in Los Angeles County. Joe Bruin is a common subject for sports memorabilia and collectibles licensed by the Collegiate Licensing Company. The character has been portrayed in comic strip form in the Daily Bruin and has been integrated into educational program outreach materials for the university. His likeness is also used in promotional campaigns for major corporate partners of UCLA Athletics.
See also
* List of college mascots in the United States * University of California, Berkeley (home of rival Oski the Bear) * University of Southern California (home of rival Traveler and Tommy Trojan) * Stanford University (home of the Stanford Tree) * Costumed character