Fresh off their national championship victory, a trio of Gators men’s basketball players traded jerseys for Raising Cane’s uniforms on April 10 as they took over the registers at one of the chain’s locations just across the street from UF campus.
In a homecoming “shift” that blurred the line between fast food and fandom, Walter Clayton Jr., Thomas Haugh and Alijah Martin served up meals — and Gator spirit — to a line of more than 100 hungry fans. Decked out in orange and blue gear and waving foam fingers, students and Gainesville locals crowded the sidewalk, eager for a chance to be served a chicken tender basket by the national champs.
“We’re all pulling in, get this job done,” said senior guard Alijah Martin when asked about bringing teamwork from the hardwood to the fryer.
Among the fans in line was Sydney Hilt, a 22-year-old UF marine science senior, who came with friends in hopes of being served by one of 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.”
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 players clocked in around 10:30 a.m. to film promotional videos and answer media questions before doors opened and the first wave of fans flooded inside. Sporting Raising Cane’s caps and branded blue T-shirts, they took orders, signed autographs and handed out meals.
Ethan Faerman, a 20-year-old UF civil engineering sophomore, rushed the Stephen C. O’Connell center court after the Gators’ victory and carried that celebration straight to Raising Cane’s. At first, Faerman and his friend were skeptical of the event.
“We were like ‘Do we really want to be at Cane’s at 10 o'clock?’” he said. “Then we’re like, ‘Well, Walter Clayton Jr. is going to hand us our chicken, so.’”
As the players worked the register, they simultaneously served up selfies, signed autographs and posed for pictures while opening and closing styrofoam to-go boxes, imitating the Gator chomp.
When their shift ended, the players exited to roaring cheers, high-fiving fans on their way out. They took the stage in front of a velvet rope-lined setup framed by a basketball hoop to address the crowd.
“Gator boys stay hot,” Clayton said.
A couple seconds later, the crowd burst into a chant: “It's great to be a Florida Gator.”
Outside, fans kept the celebration going as players signed hats and shirts and posed for more photos.
William Judge, an 18-year-old UF economics freshman and Gainesville native, said he’s been coming to Gainesville’s Raising Cane’s location since it opened in 2023. Judge had his order taken by Clayton — 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, admitted the pressure of ordering from a basketball star threw him off.
“I was scared I was gonna ask him for the wrong thing, like chicken nuggets or something,” Mistry said.
But behind the scenes, Raising Cane’s was ready. Seneca Cook, the location’s restaurant leader, said staff 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 national championship, prepared to have food ready for the crowds to feast on when the buzzer sounded April 7.
“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.
