Florida’s “Gator Bait” cheer was back in the Swamp on Saturday night, surfacing during Jon Sumrall’s UF debut after a six-year ban.
The moment came in the opening quarter of Florida’s season opener against Florida Atlantic, right after the first touchdown of the new era. When the school band struck up the familiar cue, fans answered with the words the university had ended in June 2020 over concerns about possible racial undertones.
Florida sophomore receiver Vernell Brown III set it up with a 49-yard touchdown catch that put the Gators ahead 7-0. When FAU came onto the field, the band played the tune and the crowd responded loudly with, “Gator Bait.”
The cheer had been off-limits since former UF president Kent Fuchs announced it would be banned at sporting events because of the “horrific racist imagery” tied to the phrase, which dates to the 19th century. The source of that imagery was art from the late 1800s and early 1900s depicting alligator hunters using Black babies to lure the animals into the open.
Its return on Saturday night had been building all week after video clips surfaced on social media showing the band practicing the song.
New school president Stuart Bell had also signaled in June that the cheer could eventually come back. Speaking on “The Frangie Show” on 1010XL in Jacksonville, Bell said he valued the traditions that shape college football programs.
“I know there’s a lot around the Gator Bait (cheer),” Bell said. “It’s meaningful to the Gator family. I hope we’re able to have some really great conversations around that.”
In Other News...
Florida Suddenly Have A Big Early Concern At Wide Receiver
Floridas first-week glow from the opener has already been tempered by an injury report that could reshape the early-season depth chart at receiver. Head coach Jon Sumrall said Eric Singleton Jr. is highly questionable for Week 2 against Campbell after suffering a leg injury in the season opener, a development that matters because Singleton arrived in Gainesville with proven production from stops at Georgia Tech and Auburn and was expected to be a major part of the passing game.
The timing is hardly ideal for a roster still trying to settle into its rhythm, especially with another key name, defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo, also listed as highly questionable. Florida still has time to sort through availability later in the week, but the uncertainty around Singleton puts an immediate spotlight on how much the Gators can lean on their receiver room if he is unavailable on Saturday. [Read more 🡒]
Florida's SEC Schedule Already Comes With One Early Concern
Floridas path through the SEC is already looking demanding before the league schedule even gets here, and the first weekend offered a reminder of how deep the conference can be. The SEC went 16-0 to open the season, the first time since 1997 that every team in the league won in Week 1, and that kind of clean sweep sets a tone Florida will have to answer when it starts lining up against familiar opponents later this fall.
A look around the Gators upcoming SEC slate showed nearly every future opponent handling its own opener in convincing fashion, with notable performances spread across the league and plenty of early momentum building. One of those wins came with more questions attached than the rest, but even that result only adds to the broader concern for Florida: there are no easy weekends hiding in this schedule, and the first read on the conference suggests the Gators may be staring at a long climb just to stay in the race. [Read more 🡒]
Jadan Baugh Just Raised Expectations For Floridas Entire Season
Jadan Baugh wasted no time setting a tone for Floridas season opener, turning his first game of his junior year into a statement night for the Gators ground game. He carried 14 times for 160 yards and scored three times in a 66-21 rout of Florida Atlantic, giving Florida the kind of early jolt that can shape expectations long after Week 1.
Beyond the box score, Baugh also gave a glimpse into where the locker rooms head is after a convincing win, speaking with the media about the teams mindset and goals. His performance also pushed him past a major career milestone, but the larger question for Florida is whether this was simply an explosive opener or the start of a season in which Baugh helps define how far the Gators can go. [Read more 🡒]