Whether you like them or not, Mississippi State University basketball fans should recognize “the Bunch” — six guys who make it their mission to attend as many games as possible while wearing banana costumes. Move over, Savannah Bananas! MSU has its own set of potassium-riddled mascots.
Beginning with the first basketball game of the 2023-24 season, six students, primarily from the Bagley College of Engineering, started a fan movement in MSU athletics. Ben Stroud, Kobe Childress, Andy Buchanan, David Kiesel, Joshua Fisher and Slay Lucius make up the Bunch, although there are substitutions made as needed.
Starting out with Stroud, Childress and Kiesel, the group had humble beginnings, oblivious to the phenomenon they would become. Kiesel cited once spotting a fan dressed as a walrus as part of the idea’s inception. While the details are a bit fuzzy at this point in their collective memories of who first thought of bananas, Kiesel did share an affinity for the yellow fruit.
Kiesel also shared details about what is perhaps the Bunch’s most infamous moment thus far: when one of them was arrested following a game last season.
“Early January,” Kiesel said. “We were playing No. 5-ranked Tennessee. In the last few seconds of the game, we got a steal and fast break dunk to seal the victory. The crowd erupts. One of our buddies, Kobe, storms the court to celebrate a Top Five win. Unfortunately, there were still 0.1 seconds left in the game. Security guards rush the court, put our friend in cuffs and took him out of the stadium. The rest of the bananas got interrogated by association with Kobe. Crazy night.”
Childress also commented on the incident.
“I thought the game was over, ” Childress said.
Hopefully, this will be the Bunch’s only run-in with the law, though, as each member emphasized that the goals of the group are to have fun and cheer on the teams.
Buchanan, a newer banana-clad figure, said he wanted to join the group as soon as he heard about it.
“There is nothing like cheering on your team in a banana costume,” Buchanan said. “I love the kind of fun that being a banana entails. In addition to that, I love watching basketball, and the team makes it so easy to enjoy the game.”
Buchanan elaborated on the experience, sharing that one of his favorite aspects of being a banana is getting to interact with the players at the end of the game.
“I love the down-to-earth personality of all the players,” Buchanan said, “specifically in them coming by to high-five us and talk to us. That means the world to us.”
Stroud echoed this sentiment, stating that one of his favorite things was the energy and excitement that it brings and seeing and taking pictures with the players postgame.
Buchanan also shared a personal goal for this season: swap jerseys with one of the players.
Looking forward to this upcoming season, Lucius said he is particularly optimistic, especially about the men’s team.
“We have got an awesome team this season led by an equally great coach in Chris Jans,” Lucius said. “I would encourage every student to come show up and show out. This team is gonna go far, so hop on the train early.”
Fisher also shared his excitement for the season and the future of the Bunch.
“To anyone that sees us and loves our energy and fun, thank y’all,” Fisher said. “And to the people we are not so loved by, we still love y’all just the same. Hail State!”
