Peeling Back the Layers: Who is the Banana-Man?

(And why does senior Jacob Bush attend athletic events dressed that way?)

Article By: Claire Frazier, Contributing Writer | BCS Chronicle

What You Need To Know:

• TAMU student, Jacob Bush, an agricultural economics major from Richmond, has become a local legend by wearing a banana-suit to Texas A&M athletic events.

• Bush as “Banana Man” made his first appearance in the A&M-Miami football game two years ago.

• Bush has been to an estimated fifty A&M sporting events as Banana Man and loves cheering on his team, interacting with fans, and engaging in friendly shenanigans.

• With only a few months remaining until his graduation, Bush is considering the future of Banana Man and whether or not he will pass on the tradition to a future student or simply retire the costume.

What started as a simple Halloween costume worn to a September Texas A&M (TAMU) football game has propelled a banana-suit-clad Aggie senior to local legend status. 

The man behind “The Banana-Man,” now a recognizable figure in the crowd, is senior Jacob Bush, a TAMU agricultural economics major from Richmond. 

The banana suit made its first appearance two years ago when Texas A&M hosted Miami and Bush said he initially wore it on a whim. Last semester, it reappeared as part of a strategy to meet new people, and since then, it has become a regular sight. 

“I was really shy to start it off,” Bush said. “Starting to be out there and yell and stuff for games has really just opened me up as a person and helped me be more confident and more of myself. Over time, I just really built myself as a character.” 

As the Banana-Man, Bush is constantly meeting new people, taking photos and building relationships. 

“It’s a really good marketing ploy, because in a crowd of maroon, you see the big yellow figure,” he said. “So it helped out a lot [to] be noticed and have a lot of friends. After that, I just kept on going.” 

Bush estimates he’s been to over 50 games in the suit. He’s been spotted across A&M’s athletic venues, cheering on the teams, interacting with fans and engaging in various Banana-Man shenanigans. 

One such moment involved heckling a third base coach during a home baseball game against South Carolina. The coach, who turned around and yelled back — at a banana — caught Bush off guard. 

“That was really scary at the time, but looking back on it, it’s so hilarious,” Bush said.

Nearly all of Bush’s stories have a happy ending. Whether he’s reminiscing or forming new friendships, the Banana-Man perseveres through hot, exhausting games with a positive outlook. 

“There’ve been a lot of games where I’ve been extremely hot, especially in baseball, and the big suit sucked a lot,” he said. “But it’s so heartwarming to see people care. One of the reasons why I still do it is [that] people still come up to me. Building relationships is really important.” 

Bush attended the final game of the 2024 College World Series championship in Omaha, Nebraska, this summer, where temperatures exceeded 100 degrees. Bush’s step-grandfather made the trip possible. So despite the heat, Bush embraced the opportunity.

“I ended up going somewhere out of state that I've never thought about going,” he said. “[I] had a lot of fun with friends, going to bars, meeting new people, just enjoying the game, all because of the banana suit.”

Though the perks are plenty, there are misconceptions about being the Banana-Man. 

“People think ‘he probably goes to Northgate and is a party animal,’” Bush said. “I’m pretty reserved. As much as I love to go to games, I also love to just relax and chill. People all the time tell me, ‘you’re a celebrity,’ but I’m not. I put on a suit and I’m a different person.” 

Bush, a few months away from graduation, has started thinking about the future of the Banana-Man. 

“I’ve had a few ideas, like passing it on to someone or maybe just retiring it,” he said. “I think that’s a decision for me to make later on. We’ll see.” 

Suit aside, Bush said his college experience has been shaped by attending games. In a period of growth for Texas A&M athletics – with recent attendance improving in football, baseball, volleyball, and basketball – the spirited 12th Man is a crucial part of Aggie culture. 

“Sure, the Banana-Man made me more present in the crowd, but just being at games and supporting other Aggies has definitely shaped my perspective of the 12th Man and Aggieland,” Bush said. “It's amazing to see more people come to games. I think that's really important for students who play the sport.”