University of Florida Reinstated Gator Bait Cheer
The controversial chant returned to the stadium during the first two games of the 2026 football season.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Football
Live Poll
Should universities restore controversial traditions after they have been officially retired?
The University of Florida brought back the Gator Bait cheer for the 2026 season, ending a six-year hiatus. The tradition was performed during games on Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, 2026.
Why it matters
University officials concluded the cheer is unrelated to racist imagery in the context of athletics. The school reinstated the tradition because it holds a special place in Florida football history.
The cheer was a fixture of Florida football for 24 years before its 2020 retirement. It officially returned for the first quarter of games starting with the season opener against Florida Atlantic.
The players
Lawrence Wright
He is a former University of Florida football player who is credited with creating the Gator Bait cheer in 1996.
Kent Fuchs
He is a former University of Florida president who oversaw the initial retirement of the Gator Bait cheer in 2020.
Stuart Bell
He is the current president of the University of Florida who began his tenure in July 2026.
The details
The UF Fightin' Gator Marching Band plays the cheer while fans perform the Gator Chomp and shout the phrase. Former UF player Lawrence Wright originally coined the chant in 1996, and the university now plans to continue the tradition at future games.
Timeline
Lawrence Wright coined the Gator Bait phrase in 1996.
The university retired the chant in 2020 due to its history.
Stuart Bell became the president of the University of Florida in July 2026.
The cheer returned at the Florida Atlantic game on Sept. 5, 2026.
The cheer was performed at the Campbell University game on Sept. 12, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This move signals a shift in the university's approach to its athletic traditions by prioritizing historical longevity over previous social concerns. The return of the cheer serves to re-anchor the home-game atmosphere at The Swamp to the program's mid-90s era.
Fans attending games at The Swamp can expect to hear the cheer played by the marching band during the first quarter. This re-introduction standardizes the chant as part of the formal game-day experience moving forward.
The takeaway
The return of the cheer illustrates the university's shift toward prioritizing long-standing athletic rituals. Fans should expect the chant to remain a permanent feature of home games throughout the current season and beyond.
Further reading
For more on the current season, visit Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Independent Florida Alligator.
Live Poll
Should universities restore controversial traditions after they have been officially retired?
