Press Herald reports on Bananas mascot makeover
The Portland Press Herald reported on the new look for the University of Maine mascot, Bananas T. Bear. The new Bananas made his debut at the football home opener and will be seen in Portland at the Ice Breaker hockey tournament Oct. 9–10, according to the article. “As with every new bear, he’s receiving a variety of different reviews,” said Robert Dana, the university’s dean of students and vice president for student life. “Some people see the traditional UMaine sports bear in him. Others want the big, old, roly-poly bear. He’s ingratiating himself, as every bear up to this point in time has done.” The current iteration is the sixth costume makeover since the human-in-a-suit mascot debuted in 1969, three years after live mascots were outlawed by the state, the article states. The new suit features more flexibility and better ventilation and visibility.