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Florida revives "gator bait" cheer
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:11 am
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:11 am
quote:ESPN
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The University of Florida revived its "gator bait" cheer Saturday night during its season opener, bringing it back more than six years after the school banned it because of "horrific historic racist imagery" associated with the phrase.
New school president Stuart Bell said in June that "traditions matter" and hinted that the cheer could return because "it's meaningful to the Gator family."
It returned to the Swamp early in the first quarter against Florida Atlantic and was welcomed with a raucous reception. It was far from a surprise because clips of Florida's band practicing the accompanying tune were shared on social media this week.
Former Florida president Kent Fuchs announced in June 2020 that Florida's band would no longer play the musical cue prompting fans to chant "gator bait" because of concerns about possible racial undertones. Art depicting alligator hunters using Black babies to lure the animals into the open was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The decision came amid a broader national reckoning on race following the murder of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis in May 2020.
Many Florida fans met Fuchs' decree with disdain, arguing the cheer was a tradition and never performed with any racist intentions.
Bell seemed to agree. He was Florida's sole finalist as president after the school began its third search in four years in December 2025. Florida's board of governors rejected the selection of Dr. Santa Ono, the former president of the University of Michigan, in June 2025.
Bell took over a school that eliminated all diversity, equity and inclusion positions in 2024 after a new state rule that prohibited the addition of such programs.
Florida closed its office of the chief diversity officer and stopped DEI-focused contracts with external vendors. The $5 million in annual funds previously allocated for UF's DEI initiatives, including salaries and expenditures, was placed into a faculty recruitment fund.
The Gators went on to win 66-21.
9
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:24 am to bigjoe1
What is racist about gator bait?
This post was edited on 9/6/26 at 5:25 am
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:37 am to bigjoe1
Common sense prevails. The chant took off when Lawrence Wright remarked "if you ain't a gator then you must be gator bait." No one has ever established a link between UF's use of the chant and anything racist.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:41 am to Jorts R Us
Banning that chant was the most retarded shite ever.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:42 am to jizzle6609
I had to go look it up but apparently it was a thing over 100 years ago.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:45 am to jizzle6609
quote:
What is racist about gator bait?
It had a different meaning to some in the late 1800's early 1900's.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alligator_bait
Words can have different meanings and those who are easily offended by words, yell the loudest. Obviously never appreciating the "Stick and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me" mantra.
Have you said the word, "Apple?" Avoid this word at an Indian Casino.
quote:
First used in the 1970s. Someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside". Used primarily by other Native Americans to indicate someone who has lost touch with their cultural identity.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:46 am to Beessnax
Whiney bitches. Never seen a group of people so whiney and just ugly about everything. What makes me really upset is they don’t take any time to ponder what life would be like back in Africa.
We literally live in the best country in the world and these people take it for granted. Sad.
We literally live in the best country in the world and these people take it for granted. Sad.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:48 am to BoomerandSooner
quote:
It had a different meaning to some in the late 1800's early 1900's.
Yeah, those folks have been dead for hundreds of years. Softest people ever. Truly just embarrassing.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 5:50 am to BoomerandSooner
quote:
Have you said the word, "Apple?" Avoid this word at an Indian Casino.
lol.
I wonder if people carrying Apple phones all day long is a micro aggression
Posted on 9/6/26 at 7:44 am to BoomerandSooner
quote:
Someone who is "red on the outside, white on the inside".
That's clever
Posted on 9/6/26 at 7:47 am to jizzle6609
Trees, dogs, gators, job interviews… all racist.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 8:05 am to jizzle6609
It did not discriminate, gators will try to eat anything in its pond if they are hungry.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 8:08 am to bigjoe1
quote:
"traditions matter"
Not at LSU where we don’t play Neck
Posted on 9/6/26 at 8:13 am to B747Tiger
quote:
Not at LSU where we don’t play Neck
Wife said she saw Kiff said they would this year?
Posted on 9/6/26 at 8:13 am to bigjoe1
Not a fan of those jort-wearing a-holes, but I am glad normalcy is returning
Posted on 9/6/26 at 8:13 am to jizzle6609
quote:
late 1800's early 1900's.
quote:
those folks have been dead for hundreds of years
Posted on 9/6/26 at 9:21 am to bigjoe1
It’s stupid cheer, because bait is a tool used to trap/kill things.
A gator eating bait does not lead to good things for the gator
Maybe I'm being nitpicky
Either way, the cheer has never been racist. That’s retarded
A gator eating bait does not lead to good things for the gator
Maybe I'm being nitpicky
Either way, the cheer has never been racist. That’s retarded
Posted on 9/6/26 at 9:27 am to jizzle6609
quote:
What is racist about gator bait?
When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.
Posted on 9/6/26 at 9:41 am to MrFreakinMiyagi
So is "tiger bait" racist as well?
Posted on 9/6/26 at 9:48 am to Beessnax
Didn't Florida stop the "gator chomp" after their fans in Baton Rouge in 2019 were "gator chomped" by the entire LSU crowd?
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