Florida Gators opponents on the verge of defeat will no longer be serenaded with taunts of being “Gator Bait!”
UF president Kent Fuchs announced Thursday the popular cheer would be banned at sporting events due to the “horrific racist imagery” associated with the phrase, dating to the 19th century when black children were used as bait to lure alligators.
“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 university community. “Accordingly, University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer.”
Fuchs noted the death of George Floyd nearly three weeks ago has served as the impetus to address any instances of racism and inequity on the campus.
Fuchs, who is in his fifth year as school president, laid out 16 initiatives grouped in three categories. The 10th item banned the popular cheer and could be found under the heading, “History, symbolism and demonstrating behaviors consistent with our values.”
Often accompanied by the Gator Chomp, the chant, “Gator Bait,” is ubiquitous at UF sporting events.
Throughout home football games, a short lead-in by the school band is followed by the shouts, “Gator Bait!” The cheer routinely accompanies made free throws at men’s basketball games.
But long before those two words were yelled at UF sporting events, the words “gator bait” referred to a reprehensible practice during the late 1800s and early 1900s involving black babies and children used as alligator bait, according to Ferris State University’s Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. The phrase also was used as slur toward black people.
The museum’s website features published articles on the topic, noting in 1919 the Florida Department of Agriculture made a concerted effort to stop the advertising on postcards of alligators lying in wait for black children because it had become “destructive advertising for the livestock development in Florida.”
Meanwhile, the “Gator Bait” cheer has become an integral part of UF sports, particularly football, during recent decades.
Former All-America defensive back Lawrence Wright, one of the players who helped popularize the use of the phrase, told the Gainesville Sun Thursday he is disappointed with the decision and plans to speak to Dr. Fuchs about it.
“The Gator Nation is a culture, too,” Wright, who is black, told the Sun. “It’s not about what happened way back in the past. How about our culture?
“Me and the president need to sit down and talk about this.”
Following the Gators’ 1995 win against Florida State, Wright famously said, “If you ain’t a Gator, ya Gator bait, baby,” according to the Sun.
The decision received ample support and outrage on social media.
UF law student Dan Weldon II started a petition opposing the decision, seeking 1,000 signatures. Within two hours, more than 800 people had signed it.
Weldon soon raised the petition’s goal to 5,000 signatures. By 7 p.m. Thursday more than 4,000 people had signed it.
Fuchs said the decision to ban the cheer is just one element of a much larger plan to improve the university’s relationship with race and ethnicity. Task forces will be formed to address the university’s history with various ethnic groups and to review the naming of buildings and monuments on campus.
Fuchs said he is personally focused on removing monuments or namings that “celebrate the Confederacy or its leaders,” a trend happening nationwide in the wake of protests spurred by Floyd’s death while he was detained by Minneapolis Police.
Some other policy goals include:
* Requiring training for all current and new students, faculty and staff on racism, inclusion and bias.
* Focusing the 2020-21 academic year on the black experience, racism and inequity, including feature speakers, seminars and courses at each of the college.
* Eliminating the use of inmate labor for UF’s agricultural operations.
* Redoubling efforts to support local small businesses and vendor diversity
Fuchs concluded his letter, “It is past time for UF to commit and engage in this challenging, uncomfortable, transformational work. We know that we cannot undo lifetimes of injustice and racism, but we believe we can make progress — in education, in advancing truth, reconciliation and justice, and in anti-racism, equality and working to eradicate inequities.”
This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Edgar Thompson@orlandosentinel.com.