{"id":2655691,"date":"2026-09-07T21:46:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T01:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stadium-erupts-as-florida-brings-back-chant-that-was-banned-for-years-due-to-imaginary-racist-history\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T21:53:49","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T01:53:49","slug":"stadium-erupts-as-florida-brings-back-chant-that-was-banned-for-years-due-to-imaginary-racist-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stadium-erupts-as-florida-brings-back-chant-that-was-banned-for-years-due-to-imaginary-racist-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Stadium Erupts as Florida Brings Back Chant That Was Banned for Years Due to Imaginary &#8216;Racist&#8217; History"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">34<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstadium-erupts-as-florida-brings-back-chant-that-was-banned-for-years-due-to-imaginary-racist-history%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2655691&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the return of the &#8220;Gator Bait&#8221; chant at the University of Florida&#8217;s football games. Originally banned in June 2020 due to its connections to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wapo-correspondent-pulling-dr-seuss-not-cancel-culture-your-culture-is-just-garbage\/\" title=\"WaPo Correspondent: Pulling Dr. Seuss Not \u2018Cancel Culture,\u2019 Your Culture Is Just Garbage\">racist imagery<\/a> and historic depictions involving black children, the chant was reinstated in September 2026 under new university leadership. The previous president, Kent Fuchs, stated there was no evidence of racism linked to the cheer, despite acknowledging its racist historic associations, and subsequently left his position. The new president, Stuart Bell, emphasized that traditions matter and brought the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/nbc-attempts-to-defend-lgbt-marchers-were-coming-for-your-children-chant-somehow-makes-it-worse\/\" title=\"NBC&#039;s defense of LGBT marchers&#039; &#039;We&#039;re Coming for Your Children&#039; ... backfires, making the situation even worse.\">chant back<\/a>, with fans and the marching band celebrating its return. The article reflects on how the cultural climate shifted after the death of George Floyd in 2020, leading to widespread bans on certain traditions considered racially insensitive. It suggests that the revival of the chant signals a move away from the extremes of that period,even though it warns that radical activism persists among certain political groups.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Sanity returned to the University of Florida Saturday when the Gators took on the Florida Atlantic Owls at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.<\/p>\n<p>During the neo-Marxist cultural revolution that was the summer of 2020, everything deemed \u201cracist\u201d had to be purged, regardless of context or logic dictating otherwise. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/college-football\/story\/_\/id\/49842172\/florida-gator-bait-cheer-banned-20-revived-opener\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a> reported that this included the popular \u201cgator bait\u201d chant, in which fans would extend their arms in front of them and clap their hands together like an alligator seizing its prey.<\/p>\n<p>What exactly does that have to do with race? The university\u2019s president that year, Kent Fuchs, announced racial undertones were a concern because artwork from the late 1800s and <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >early 1900s showed alligator hunters<\/a> using black babies as bait.<\/p>\n<p>However, Fox News\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/outkick-sports\/florida-gators-revive-iconic-gator-bait-chant-left-deemed-racist-2020-fans-ate-it-up\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Outkick Sports<\/a> reported that Fuchs had admitted UF\u2019s chant had nothing to do with any of those depictions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I know of no evidence of racism associated with our \u2018Gator Bait\u2019 cheer at UF sporting events, there is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gators-won-march-madness-but-lost-their-iconic-cheer-to-leftists\/\" title=\"... Won March Madness But Lost Their Iconic ... To Leftists\">horrific historic racist imagery<\/a> associated with the phrase,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Fox sports writer Zach Dean observed, \u201cTranslation: \u2018This isn\u2019t racist, but we\u2019re bending the knee to the mob because that\u2019s what everyone is doing right now.&#8217;\u201d<\/p>\n<p>So, the president was weak-willed and he caved.<\/p>\n<p>Fuchs is now gone.<\/p>\n<p>In July, Stuart Bell took over the role and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-releases-list-of-president-trumps-accomplishments-and-it-is-historic\/\" title=\"White House Releases List of President Trump\u2019s Accomplishments \u2013  And It Is Historic!\">brought back<\/a> the chant, saying, \u201ctraditions matter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He had hinted months ago that the cheer might be making a comeback, because \u201cit\u2019s meaningful to the Gator family.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Footage from Saturday\u2019s game began circulating on the social media platform X, with fans rejoicing.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Gator Bait cheer is officially back at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium<\/p>\n<p>The UF marching band performed the cheer at the start of FAU\u2019s second drive in the <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/hashtag\/Gators?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#Gators<\/a> season opener<\/p>\n<p>The cheer had been banned in June 2020 due to the \u201chistorical racist imagery associated with the phrase\u201d\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/w6d8FsBg0C\">pic.twitter.com\/w6d8FsBg0C<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Noah Ram (@Noah_ram1) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Noah_ram1\/status\/2096392085524123841?\">September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"eu\">Gator Bait <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/CMDWpNaZbI\">pic.twitter.com\/CMDWpNaZbI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 kt (@Swampette94) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Swampette94\/status\/2096457737676689607?\">September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Florida band brings back \u201cGator Bait\u201d chant after it was banned for six years. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/40IigtrTkM\">pic.twitter.com\/40IigtrTkM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Jada Ross (@JadaRoss31) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JadaRoss31\/status\/2096404896194888028?\">September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The death of George Floyd in May 2020 saw common sense leave the building entirely.<\/p>\n<p>Racism was perceived everywhere.<\/p>\n<p>It did not matter the individual, the organization, the intent, or the history of the subject matter.<\/p>\n<p>There was an insatiable hunger to annihilate our culture in service of conquering the racist boogeyman that had long been lurking in the shadows.<\/p>\n<p>Seeing the shift back to a pre-2020 tradition is a good sign, but we must always be vigilant.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, despite the revolutionary fervor dissipating, the radical left has not gone anywhere.<\/p>\n<p>These people did not see the error of their ways; we withstood their onslaught.<\/p>\n<p>They eagerly await another cause to latch onto, to give meaning to an otherwise listless, miserable existence that yearns for activism.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; 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