On Thursday morning, hot off their national championship victory, a trio of Gators men’s basketball players traded their jerseys for Raising Cane’s uniforms.
As the hype for the Gators basketball team only grows, Raising Cane’s held a celebratory homecoming “shift” for champions Walter Clayton Jr., Thomas Haugh and Alijah Martin as an opportunity for players and fans to celebrate their win at Monday’s national championship.
Orange and blue shirts, foam fingers and hats lined University Avenue in front of Raising Cane’s as over 100 Gators men’s basketball fans anxiously waited to be served chicken fingers by their favorite players.
When asked what lessons the team is taking from the court to their shift at Raising Canes, senior guard Alijah Martin said, “We’re all pulling in, get this job done.”
Sydney Hilt, a 22-year-old UF marine science senior, waited in line outside of Raising Canes with her friends in hopes of being served by one of the players.
Hilt said she was happy to be there and encourage the players.
“If I was them, I’d be doing everything I can, too,” she said. “Thank you for serving me chicken. Thank you for winning the natty.”
The sun shined and the wind offered a relieving breeze to those waiting in line as Raising Canes handed out foam fingers and merchandise to the first eager fans in line.
Ethan Faerman, a 20-year-old UF civil engineering sophomore, found out about the event through a friend who saw it on social media. After the Gators won Monday, Faerman said he rushed the O’Connell center’s basketball court and then walked to University Avenue to celebrate.
At first, Faerman and his friend were skeptical of the event at Raising Canes.
“We were like ‘Do we really want to be at Canes at 10 o'clock?,’” he said. “And then we’re like, ‘Well, Walter Clayton Jr. is going to hand us our chicken, so.’”
Briana Vanoordt, a 21-year-old UF biology junior, said it’s been a long time since UF has had this level of pride in Gator sports. Vanoordt said she felt like she was “on a high” while waiting in line.
“I feel like the guy that was on the light post on Monday,” she said. “Just excited jumping up and down.”
The team filmed promotional videos at around 10:30 a.m., and answered questions in press conference style interviews. Five minutes later, the front doors opened and about 15 people who waited in line entered Raising Canes.
The players sported white hats and blue shirts with the restaurant's logo while they discussed their reactions to winning the national championship, fan celebrations and morale across the university.
The players worked the register while simultaneously taking selfies, signing autographs and posing for pictures. The players had fun behind the counter, posing for a picture while opening and closing styrofoam to-go boxes, imitating the gator chomp.
When the players finished their shift, they were greeted by a crowd of fans outside as they walked to the front doors of Raising Cane's. The players high-fived fans on both sides, while excited fans cheered.
The players shared a few words as they stood on a small stage surrounded by poles connected with red velvet ropes, framed by a basketball hoop.
“Gator boys stay hot,” Clayton said to the crowd.
A couple seconds later, the crowd burst into cheers and started to chant, “It's great to be a Florida Gator.”
Outside, the players signed more hats and T-shirts, while posing for more selfies and taking pictures.
William Judge, an 18-year-old UF economics freshman and Gainesville native, said he has been coming to Gainesville’s Raising Cane’s location since it opened in 2023. Judge had his order taken by Clayton Jr. — though every fan in line was given the same box combo of chicken tenders, fries, toast and coleslaw.
“To get served by Walter Clayton, that's the best server I’ve had for sure,” Judge said.
Shaan Mistry, a 19 year-old UF industrial engineering freshman, said he was afraid he was going to mess up his order as he was rung up by one of the players.
“I was scared, I was gonna ask him for, like, the wrong thing, like chicken nuggets or something,” Mistry said.
Seneca Cook, the location’s restaurant leader, said Cane’s prepared for the quick turnover by having their staff, most of which are students, tune into the game and pivot in case of a potential collaboration, even before the Gators won.
“One of my responsibilities as a restaurant leader is to really have a real big ear down to the community and what we have going on,” Cook said.
Cook said he and his staff were up to date with the final games, and during the final game, prepared to have food ready for the crowds to feast on when the final game ended Monday night.
“When events like this happen, we have to really make a big pivot on the fly,” he said. “We were right in the midst of the massive tsunami of people that came from downtown and came out to celebrate. It was absolutely amazing.”
Contact Sofia Meyers at smeyers@alligator.org. Follow her on X @SofiaMeyer84496
Sofia Meyers is a second-year journalism major and the university general assignment reporter. When she is not reporting, she enjoys taking walks, reading books and playing pickle ball.
