If every SEC school had to have a different name

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UCLA is the Los Angeles branch of the University of California system, and the bear is on the California state flag, it made sense for UCLA to adopt an ursine mascot.

Initially, UCLA teams were known as the “Cubs,” while the University of California at Berkley went by the “Bears,” and later the “Golden Bears.”

But students at UCLA resented the little brother status and rejected the Cubs nickname in favor of the fiercer “Grizzlies” nickname.

The Grizzlies moniker lasted just two years.

In 1926, UCLA joined the old Pacific Coast Conference, which already had some Grizzlies in the mix -- namely, the University of Montana. UCLA agreed to give up the Grizzlies nickname, and Cal bequeathed UCLA one of the variations on their Bear nickname: “Bruins.”

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