GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Florida announced Thursday the ban of the “Gator Bait” cheer by the university’s athletics and Gator Band.In a letter from President Kent Fuchs that detailed out a list of plans to combat racism and social injustice on Florida’s campus, the president listed the ban of the cheer by University Athletics and the Gator Band.“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.
Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer,” Fuchs said.The chant is used at Florida Gators sporting events in insinuating its opponents are gator bait.Prior to the chant.