A bear was an obvious choice for California schools, as it is the state emblem, which explains why both UCB and UCLA adopted a bear mascot. Twelve UCB track athletes competed against the powerful eastern schools in the spring of 1895, the first time the UCB athletic teams had competed outside of the state. The track team brought with them banners with the word "California" and a grizzly bear. Out of six dual meets, the team won four and tied one before winning the Western Intercollegiate Meet in Chicago. Berkeley's homecoming reception featured the team's banners, which inspired English professor Charles Mills Gayley to compose “The Golden Bear" which includes the line: "Oh, have you seen our banner blue? The Golden Bear is on it too. A Californian through and through Our totem he, the Golden Bear!"