Posted on Friday, December 22, 2023
Jacob Bey (JHJ '23)
Fall 2023 graduate Jacob Bey loves Texas Southern University, and he’s not ashamed to tell anyone who listens.
“I bleed maroon and gray,” he said. “I can say I really lived the college, Texas Southern life. I can really say Texas Southern loves me.”
He came to TSU from Arlington, by way of Chicago. He spent three years as a RA. But he was best-known for the work he did behind a mask as Tex the Tiger. His first game was a homecoming.
“I actually wanted to quit because it rained during the parade. I was so mad. I was soaking wet. It was pouring down. Then the game was very humid. I said you know what, this isn’t for me.”
It didn’t take long for him to realize it was for him indeed, and he has the viral moments to show for it, most notably from the NCAA Tournament game against Kansas.
“I didn’t know I went viral. My teammates actually saw the video and sent it to me. I said oh wow.”
As Tex, he was part of the history-making national championship winning TSU Cheer Team. And he is a two-time All-American mascot. As Jacob, he was a marketing major.
“Whenever I’m in the classroom, I’m always the one in front. I am the talkative one. I’m the one who everybody knows in the classroom because people know me before I was even the mascot. I’m the energetic one in the class. The teacher always tells me Jacob you have to be quiet. I’m teaching.”
And he’s the ever-present friend.
As he dances into his next chapter, he says he’s not the same Jacob Bey that came to TSU four years ago.
“I can say I’ve grown an exponential amount. I know that the freshman me would be so proud just being able to see what I’ve done, being able to see the progress, and the main point is being able to graduate, and in four years at that.”
Category: Alumni, News Media, Students, Faculty & Staff