The sports teams for UCLA are called the Bruins. The Bruin men's and womens' teams participate in NCAA Division I-A as part of the Pacific Ten Conference. Jackie Robinson, Troy Aikman, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, and Ann Meyers are just some of the famous athletic alumni.
School colors
The UCLA school colors are "True Blue" and gold. The "True Blue" is a slightly darker shade than the previous powder blue worn by teams. The shade was developed by the UCLA athletic department and
Adidas for the 2003 school year.
In the early days of the school, the colors were Navy blue and gold like the first University of California.
When football coach Red Sanders came to UCLA for the 1949 season he redesigned the football uniforms. Sanders added a gold loop on the shoulders, the UCLA Stripe. The navy blue was changed to a lighter shade of blue. Sanders figured that the baby blue would look better on the field and in film. He would dub the baby blue uniform "Powder Keg Blue", powder blue with an explosive kick.
Sports facilities
Two notable sports facilities serve as home venues for UCLA sports. The Bruin football team plays home games at the
Rose Bowl in
Pasadena, California; the team won a national title in
1954. The men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams play at
Pauley Pavilion on campus.
Championships
As of
2006, UCLA has won 119 national championships, including 99
NCAA championships, more than any other university. On May 14, 2006, the UCLA women's water polo team won the national final game against archrival USC, and secured the Bruins' 99th overall NCAA championship.
Football
In 1954, the UCLA Bruin Football team had a 9-0 record and was ranked number one in the
UPI football poll. The Bruins have played in the
Rose Bowl game 12 times with a 5-7 record overall. The Bruins have won or shared the conference title 17 times.
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Trophy is awarded each year to the finest player in college football; one UCLA player, Gary Beban, has won the award.
Basketball
Among these championships, some of the more notable victories are the men's
basketball championships under coaches
John Wooden and
Jim Harrick. The rich legacy of UCLA basketball has produced 11 NCAA championships - 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, and 1995. Holding the record for most basketball championships, however, is not the only incredible achievement possessed by UCLA's athletics program. From 1971 to 1974, UCLA men's basketball won an unprecedented 88 consecutive games, a record that many sports pundits consider unbreakable. Past rosters of UCLA basketball teams have been filled with such greats such as
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (then known as Lew Alcindor),
Bill Walton,
Reggie Miller and
Baron Davis.
Other NCAA team championships
Besides the basketball championships, UCLA has won
NCAA Division I championships in the following events:
Men's sports: Golf (1), Gymnastics (2), Soccer (4), Swimming (1), Tennis (16), Track and Field (8), Volleyball (19), Water Polo (8).
Women's sports: Golf (2), Gymnastics (5), Softball (10*), Track and Field (5), Volleyball (3), Water Polo (4).
- The Softball Team had to forfeit one of its national championships due to NCAA recruiting violations.
Olympic competitors
In addition to the success of its collegiate sports program, UCLA is always well represented at the
Olympics. In the
2004 Athens games, UCLA sent 56 athletes, more than any other university in the country.
Spirit
The Bruin mascots are Joe and Josephine Bruin. The
Solid Gold Sound of the UCLA Bruin
Marching Band entertains the crowds at Bruin games. The school
fight songs are "
Sons of Westwood" and "
The Mighty Bruins".
USC rivalry
UCLA shares a traditional sports rivalry with the nearby
University of Southern California. This rivalry is relatively unique in
NCAA Division I sports because both schools are located within the same city, Los Angeles. The
Lexus Gauntlet is the name given to a competition between UCLA and the University of Southern California in the 18 varsity sports that both compete in head-to-head; in 2003 and 2005, UCLA won the Lexus Gauntlet Trophy, while the University of Southern California has won the trophy in 2002, 2004, and 2006.
External links
College athletic programs | UCLA Bruins athletics | University of California, Los Angeles | University and college sports clubs