Originally, the UCLA mascot was a bear cub, a nod to the school’s fledgling status that didn’t sit well for long. So in 1924, students adopted the more ferocious Grizzly.
UCLA’s earliest mascots were live bears, which entertained the home crowd at football games. The bears were given a variety of names, but Joe Bruin lasted the longest.
UCLA Bruins Mascot Joe Bruin
Costumed student mascots took over the UCLA mascot job in the 1960s. Several students were selected to take turns playing Joe, who was joined in 1967 by a costumed Josephine or Josie, as she is called today. Joe’s costumes and depiction have evolved over the years, from a Mickey Mouse looking Bruin in the 1930s to a smiling Joe in the 1970s. The current design was unveiled in 1996.
Beat ‘SC Bonfire and Rally
A UCLA tradition, the Beat ’SC Bonfire and Rally is the finale to Blue and Gold Week, a week-long series of spirit activities. Preserving a long tradition of sports rivalry, nearly 5,000 students, faculty and alumni gather on the Intramural Field for pre-game festivities.
