A few weeks ago, University of Florida President Kent Fuchs released a statement addressing changes to the University’s policies, curriculum, and regulations in efforts to address racism and inequality on campus. Lawrence Wright, who played for Florida in the 90s, famously said “If you ain’t a Gator, ya Gator bait, baby” after a win against Florida State in 1995, according to a report published Thursday by GatorSports.com. Those feelings seem to be a popular sentiment in Gainesville following the school’s decision to move away from the term effective immediately. 1 in the country. And just like that, it was re-born as a phrase to describe Gator team rivals. (RELATED: Florida Gators End ‘Gator Bait’ Cheer After Admitting There’s No Evidence It’s Racist), “The Gator Nation is a culture, too,” Wright told GatorSports. “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. The University of Florida College of Medicine has appointed a new dean, who will become the first female to hold the position in the 64 year history of the program. Below is a video of Wright leading the chant in the 90s. Feel free to contact him at Mark@BroBible.com. That wasn’t all the former Gator defensive back had to say on the subject. Nasty arguing or name calling with inappropriate and explicit language will get users removed from the system and/or a shutting down of comments on various articles. Since that point, the phrase has been a popular one in Gainesville among Gator fans and a hated one by many rival SEC fans on the wrong end of a losing matchup. Among the many changes, the university stated that the 2020-21 academic year “will focus on the Black experience, racism, and inequity” and the school will “require training of all current and new students, faculty and staff on racism, inclusion and bias.”. How about our culture?”. “I’m not going for it,” Wright said. It even took some local historians a second to reconsider the popular cheer. “Man, how can you erase all that for something that happened in the 18th century?,” he said. Florida made the decision after admitting the school and its fans never used the term to evoke any racism but the origins of the phrase over one hundred years ago are not as innocent. x 1; Jun 18, 2020 #8. “We took a program from the top five to No. “It’s a story that has been passed down from the early days,” Neilson said, “people who were hunting alligators would use black children as bait. “The Gator Nation is a culture, too,” Wright said. “It’s not about what happened way back in the past. 12 Jersey, And You Can’t Blame Him, These Are The Five ‘South Park’ Episodes Being Erased From History →. The way Wright views the news, Florida’s decision robs Gator fans of their proud history and culture. Lawrence Wright, who played for Florida in the 90s, famously said “If you ain’t a Gator, ya Gator bait, baby” after a win against Florida State in 1995, according to a report published Thursday by GatorSports.com . “I created something for us. Video surfaces that might cost Dan Mullen a fine due to the Florida-Mizzou brawl, CBS Sports sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl defends Nick Saban after criticism for Jaylen Waddle comment, ESPN, SEC Network getting hammered for Ole Miss-Vanderbilt broadcast, Ole Miss AD provides update on Demarcus Thomas after he was airlifted to hospital, How's everybody staying encouraged? All rights reserved. According to ASO, deputies responded to two shootings on Halloween: one in the area of Micanopy and another at the Waldo Motor Sports Complex . Both sides say they’re ready, with thousands of lawyers on standby to march into court to make sure ballots get counted, or excluded. Wright says he will continue to support the phrase because of the new history that UF gave it ... one of Gator family pride. Lawrence Wright, the former Florida safety that created the ‘Gator Bait’ chant after the 1996 season, is now asking for the school not to ban the cheer. That’s it.” Wright said. You see the 1996 National Champs. Comments have been disabled on this post. It was coined by former Gator star player, Lawrence Wright. 465 96 288. “That’s the only thing I was trying to communicate,” he said. Arguments over politics and other non-football issues are for other websites. Me and the president need to sit down and talk about this.”. You must be logged in to post a comment. Player who started Gator Bait chant defends the tradition, UF President Kent Fuchs announced the cheer would no longer be played at future sporting events, Marion County Sheriff’s deputies will be at the polls, ASO investigating two shootings on Halloween, Transcripts: Republican and Democratic congressmen discuss Hunter Biden emails, Previewing candidates for Bradford County Commission District 1, UF College of Medicine appoints first female dean in program history, Newsweek Magazine names Ocala bank “Best Small Bank" in Florida, Gainesville Health & Fitness: Fighting Breast Cancer. The first in history. Fuchs’ announcement about the discontinuation of the chant stated that the band will no longer perform the chant, but he also revealed that he personally doesn’t know any evidence of racism related to the cheer. ??????? You go look at the stadium ... you see 93, 94, 95, 96, SEC Champs. Mark is an associate editor at BroBible. It’s a college football thing. How about our culture? Paul Finebaum weighs in. You can enter to win this prize pack for free by sending us a picture of your Saturday homegating setup. It’s a college football thing. Speeches by Lawrence Wright will be dubbed with some new chant. “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 statement. The Ocala Chamber of Economic Partnership is congratulating Ocala’s First Federal Bank as Newsweek recognized the best small banks in each state. Apr 10, 2007. Wright famously said, “If you ain’t a Gator, ya Gator bait,” during Florida’s win over in-state rival Florida State back in 1995. “You either stand with the Gators and Gator Nation or you’re Gator bait. Gator Mike All American. Lawrence Wright played safety for the Gators from 1993-96, and he’s largely credited with creating the “Gator Bait” chant. Mike Leach shares the mood of the Mississippi State locker room, Mike Leach responds to question about Kylin Hill still being listed on Mississippi State's roster, Punch punishment: Former Georgia WR Javon Wims handed multi-game suspension by the NFL, Kirby Smart clarifies how much autonomy Todd Monken has in making personnel, game plan decisions, Georgia politician sends mass email to state's legislature looking for UGA-Florida tickets, Fans, media react to SEC's punishment for Dan Mullen following Florida-Missouri brawl, SEC announces punishment for Dan Mullen, Florida-Missouri following weekend brawl, Georgia vs. Florida: Reckoning with a very COVID Cocktail Party, Should the looming Georgia game be considered when handing down punishment to Florida? Accordingly University Athletics and the Gator Band will discontinue the use of the cheer.”. Mark is an associate editor and the resident golf guy here at BroBible. But a new meaning was given to the phrase after the Gators won the 1996 National Football Championship. The Saturday Down South community is a robust community of passionate football fans, but the comments exist for healthy debate around the game of college football. Don’t try and tell the player that popularized the phrase “Gator Bait” in Gainesville that the cheer should not be used in the Swamp. “It’s not about what happened way back in the past. I think I’ve done enough, put in the sweat and tears, to get to offer my opinion about something like this.”, (RELATED: Florida Gators End ‘Gator Bait’ Cheer After Admitting There’s No Evidence It’s Racist). All rights reserved. It’s not a racist thing, It’s about us, the Gator Nation. “This was a staple in our history. GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - If you’ve been at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during a Gator football game, its likely you’ve heard the “Gator Bait” chant. Saturday Down South reports and comments on the news around the Southeastern Conference as well as larger college football topics. Please sign in or register. ?‍♂️ #GoGators #FloridaGators pic.twitter.com/YGtHBhQ68f, — Austin Laine Walker (@TheAustinWalker) June 18, 2020, Wright, who played on Florida’s first national title football team, disagreed with the decision. Lawrence Wright played safety for the Gators from 1993-96, and he’s largely credited with creating the “Gator Bait” chant. “Let’s have a conversation, let’s see if, as a family, we can get on the same page and unite,” said Wright. Each week, we are giving away an ultimate homegating kit by Texas Pete. Removing the Gator Bait cheer was one change that created controversy for Gator Nation. And I’m Black.”. And at that point, the phrase had taken a movement of its own,” Wright said. “Me and the president need to sit down and talk about this,” he added. While there is no direct relation between the chant and the history of the name, the association itself was enough for President Fuchs to end the long-time gator tradition. On occasion, we will preemptively shut down comments on articles of sensitive topics if we have seen a recent history of such topics leading to inappropriate arguments. It was coined by former Gator star player, Lawrence Wright. And I’m Black.”, “What about our history as the Gator Nation?” he continued. In the statement titled ‘Another step toward positive change against racism,’ three major areas of focus were detailed. After Florida made the decision this week to stop all use of “Gator Bait” during school cheers, Pat Dooley of GatorSports.com reached out to former Florida defensive back Lawrence Wright to gauge his reaction to the news. While Wright stated that he respects the university’s president, Dr. Kent Fuchs, he told TMZ he doesn’t see the chant as being racist. The football star who created the “Gator Bait” chant is not happy with the University of Florida President’s decision to drop the cheer. “I thought about it for just a moment ... and realized that the saying actually has a much darker history that most people aren’t aware of,” Dixie Neilson, Executive Director of the Matheson History Museum, said. Democrat Carolyn Brown Spooner is facing Republican Robby Stokley.

I Can't Go Back Lyrics Pretty Woman, Cheap 19 Inch Tv, Jenish House Plans, Mimaropa Island, Cleveland Crunch Tryouts, Here I Am Take Me As An Offering, Wrens Ww2 Uniform, Levette Lake Fsr, Washington Redskins Gear Clearance, John Mulaney: The Comeback Kid Review, Ravens Steelers 2018 Highlights,