Thread Count: Revisiting UCLA football’s alternate uniforms
By Kevin Bowman
Oct. 31, 2014 8:31 a.m.
Throughout the years, UCLA football has released various alternate uniforms that feature a different color scheme from the traditional blue or white UCLA football jerseys. Daily Bruin Sports takes a look at the different uniforms over the previous years in anticipation of this year’s L.A. Steel uniform, which is set to debut in this Saturday’s homecoming game against Arizona.
Nov. 7, 2009 – UCLA 24, Washington 23 – Rose Bowl
Nov. 28, 2009 – USC 28, UCLA 7 – Coliseum
UCLA unveiled a throwback jersey for its 2009 season, a powder blue jersey with white stripes based off a similar design worn by the 1967 football team – the only year a UCLA player won the Heisman trophy. The uniform was part of a triumphant debut in UCLA’s homecoming weekend, featuring in a 24-23 win against Washington. It was also UCLA’s first Pac-10 win in six games. The jersey’s success was a one-time occurrence; the next instance UCLA donned the blue-and-white color scheme came with a 28-7 loss to USC at the Coliseum later that season.
Nov. 26, 2011 – USC 50, UCLA 0 – Coliseum
UCLA’s decision to don an all white alternate uniform in its annual matchup against USC was met with some criticism; the Bruins chose not to wear their classic blue and gold in the rivalry game. But any disappointment from fans over the uniforms evaporated by the end of the game, replaced by disappointment over the result – a 50-0 defeat at the Coliseum. The Bruins were thoroughly embarrassed by Matt Barkley and the Trojans, as the former USC quarterback passed for 423 yards and six touchdowns. The loss also ended an era; two days later, then-coach Rick Neuheisel was fired.
Nov. 3, 2012 – UCLA 66, Arizona 10 – Rose Bowl
After a historically poor performance in the all white uniforms, UCLA next foray into alternate uniforms – its dark blue L.A. Nights outfit – came with a different record setting performance as running back Johnathan Franklin set the UCLA all-time rushing record. Franklin didn’t have to wait long to enter the record books; on his third carry of the game, he scampered 37 yards for a touchdown, surpassing Gaston Green’s previous record of 3,731 yards in the process. Franklin finished with 162 yards and two touchdowns, and the Bruins finished with a resounding 66-10 win over Arizona on Homecoming.
Nov. 24, 2012 – Stanford 35, UCLA 17 – Rose Bowl
The Bruins wore their L.A. Nights uniforms a second time in 2012 in their final regular season game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl. UCLA came into the game having already clinched its spot in the following week’s Pac-12 Championship game while Stanford needed a win over UCLA to earn its spot in the title game. The Bruins matched the Cardinal with seven points in the first quarter, but Stanford pulled away in the second quarter and eventually won 35-17, setting up a rematch in the Pac-12 title game a week later.
Nov. 15, 2013 – UCLA 41, Washington 31 – Rose Bowl
UCLA broke out its black L.A. Midnight uniforms against Washington in then-freshman Myles Jack’s breakout game at running back. A week after Jack got his first carry, he officially became a household name against Washington, running for four touchdowns in UCLA’s 41-31 win. Although they had fewer total yards, the Bruins forced four turnovers to help secure the win.
Dec. 31, 2013 – Virginia Tech 42, UCLA 12 – Sun Bowl Stadium
Playing on national television at the Sun Bowl, UCLA wore its L.A. Midnight uniforms once again. After a tepid start, UCLA proved to be no match for its opponent Virginia Tech, scoring 28 fourth-quarter points en route to a 42-12 victory. Then-redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley was the star of the game, passing for 226 yards and two touchdowns and running for another 161 yards and two touchdowns. Inside linebacker Jordan Zumwalt played the role of enforcer on defense, laying a heavy hit on Hokies quarterback Logan Thomas that sidelined Thomas for the rest of the game.
Nov. 1, 2014 – UCLA vs. Arizona – Rose Bowl
UCLA will debut its new L.A. Steel uniform in Saturday’s Homecoming game against Arizona. The uniform features a grey jersey with blue-and-gold stripes and numbers, grey pants, gold shoes and a matte grey helmet.
“I love them,” said sophomore defensive end Eddie Vanderdoes. “Every time we play either black or a new uniform, we play really well so I’m excited to break them out this week. We like the helmets.”
Compiled by Kevin Bowman and Aubrey Yeo, Bruin Sports senior staff.
