LOOK: Florida Gators fans show support for Blue Coat fired by UK

A Blue Coat usher working at Rupp Arena was fired from his position of 19 years after flipping the bird toward the Florida Gators Saturday. The incident occurred after UK defeated the Gators 72-67 at home, and it was revealed on KSR Monday morning that he was relieved of his duties.

Since, the hashtag #FreeDoug has been trending on social media and has been gaining support from Big Blue Nation and beyond for UK to give him his job back. The latest being a group of 15 traveling Florida fans, who posted a photo on social media with all the friends wearing jerseys with the hashtag photoshopped on the back.

It’s honestly a pretty classy gesture coming from fans that just saw their team lose a close one on the road.

We are simply die hard Gator fans with a bucket list to visit the Mecca of college basketball in Rupp. We support the #bluecoats and appreciate all the great Kentucky fans. Doug is no exception. A great fan of his team. We wholeheartedly support the #freedoug movement. #freedoug pic.twitter.com/MLjhmSPl9Q

— Robert Streit (@rstreit13) February 6, 2023

Kentucky lets go of usher who flipped his middle finger at Florida fans

The most controversial action during the Kentucky–Florida game this past Saturday occurred off the court, where a member of Kentucky’s Committee of 101 — essentially, volunteer ushers for UK football and basketball games — gave the middle finger to a group of rowdy Florida fans once the ‘Cats had the game in hand. 

Check out Doug flipping the bird below:

Gotta love the Blue Coat Bird Flip to end the game pic.twitter.com/f4YzdNwEvf

— Matt Jones (@KySportsRadio) February 5, 2023

The University of Kentucky wasn’t as big a fan of his vulgar gesture. On Monday morning following the Saturday night victory over the Gators Doug called in to Kentucky Sports Radio and said he was asked to leave the Committee of 101. KSR host Matt Jones reported that news to Twitter and is trying to start a campaign to get Doug back on the committee. Here was Matt’s tweet: 

“Doug the Blue Coat called into KSR and said UK Athletics told the Committee to not allow him to be a Blue Coat anymore because he flipped the bird at the Florida game He said he has done the games for 19 years, loves the students and is sad. We need to help. #FreeDoug.”

Reports from Rupp Arena claimed that there was a group of rowdy Florida fans who were way out of control during the game and caused quite the disturbance. After securing the gratifying victory, Doug just let his emotions get the best of him and happened to be caught on camera.