Back to the College Football Uniforms
UCLA’s powder blue and gold is one of college football’s most classic pairings, but the Bruins have turned it up a notch — or down in the eyes of purists — in recent years with a pair of new helmets and heavy helping of navy into their gameday apparel.
If coming out in all-white against USC in 2011 wasn’t enough, UCLA’s all-navy “L.A. Nights” uniform by Adidas in 2012 rattled the uniform spectrum and catapulted the Bruins into the “look at us” realm.
Similar to Nike’s Pro Combat line, Adidas turned heads in Los Angeles when UCLA took the field against Arizona in navy shells, navy tops with powder blue numerals shadowed in gold with navy pants. The entire get up was outlined in gold with the Bruins’ patented stripes adorning the shoulders. It’s not a look UCLA will wear often according to coach Jim Mora, but it’s one that will aid in recruiting and more exposure for the program.
UCLA has donned Adidas’ slim TechFit uniforms — with shortened shoulder stripes — since 2010 and the program’s serif “Clarendon” font numerals have been a Bruins staple since the 60s. Choosing to stay away from block numbers has given UCLA its own look when most of college football dons basic numerals.
Since 1973, UCLA has worn gold shells on gameday decorated with the classic cursive “UCLA” logo in blue. From 2000-03, the Bruins updated the facemask from gray to navy before switching back its current look in 2004.
The Bruins have been with Adidas since 1999 and signed a seven-year extension in 2010. UCLA’s current $4.6 million annual payout from the three stripes is the richest apparel deal in the PAC-12 and that includes Nike powers USC, Washington and Oregon.
