Florida to discontinue ‘Gator Bait’ chant because of racial imagery
For Kentucky fans who have attended a football or basketball game at Florida or watched one on television, you’re probably familiar with the “Gator Bait” chant.
Well, “Gator Bait” no more.
At least that is what the University of Florida wants as the school announced Thursday it will no longer promote the cheer or sell “Gator Bait” merchandise because of racial imagery associated with the phrase.
According to the Tampa Bay Times, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs sent out a letter describing the reasoning behind the decision.
“While I know of no evidence of racism associated with our ‘Gator Bait’ cheer at UF sporting events, there is horrific historic racist imagery associated with the phrase,” Fuchs wrote in a letter to the UF community about some of the steps the university is taking amidst national conversations about race following George Floyd’s death.
“Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer.”
The cheer is one of the more recognizable around the SEC, along with “Roll Tide” at Alabama and “Hold That Tiger” at LSU.
According to Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum, “Gator Bait” was used in reference to African Americans. The museum exhibits artwork from the 1800s and early 1900s showing Black children being used as a way to lure alligators.
Dominique Foxworth of the Undefeated wrote a story back in 2016 about the racial overtones of the phrase.
“Alligator hunters would sit crying Black babies who were too young to walk at the water’s edge. With rope around their necks and waists, the babies would splash and cry until a crocodile snapped on one of them. The hunters would kill the alligator only after the baby was in its jaws, trading one child’s life for one alligator’s skin. They made postcards, pictures and trinkets to commemorate the practice.”
Already, Florida fans have started a petition to stop Fuchs’ action. Some have pointed to cross-state rival Florida State, whose fans use a traditional “Tomahawk Chop” chant.
Kentucky is scheduled to play at Florida on Sept. 12 this upcoming season.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 2:44 PM.
