Alumni and supporters have taken to the Internet to express their discontent with the University Athletic Associations recent decision to ground UF cheerleaders.

A Save Florida Cheerleading Facebook page has garnered nearly 1,000 likes since its creation Nov. 28, as of press time.

Other cheerleading squads, like one at Dr. Phillips High School in Orlando, posted pictures with signs that support reversing the UAAs ban on tumbling and stunting at events, games and practices.

The Facebook page coincides with a Save Florida Cheerleading website. Both sites ask The Gator Nation to contact UF athletic director Jeremy Foley and assistant athletic director Martin Salamone asking them to let the cheerleaders fly.

Jason Merslich, a former UF cheerleader and one of the Facebook page creators, said he hopes the pages will bring awareness to boosters and alumni.

The dangers associated with acrobatic stunts are not worth the risk for the cheerleaders or UF, senior associate athletics director Steve McClain wrote in an emailed statement.

Instead of waiting for a tragedy to occur, we are taking a proactive stance to protect the cheerleaders, who represent the University of Florida with enthusiasm and class, McClain wrote, and allow them to lead cheers at Gator games for years to come.

Merslich, a 27-year-old physical therapist, said he has never treated a patient who was injured because of cheerleading.

In the 2005-2006 school year, 12 high school and college female cheerleaders suffered catastrophic injuries, according to the National Center for Catastrophic Sport Injury Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. That amount has dropped steadily, and in the 2010-2011 school year, one catastrophic injury was reported for high school cheerleaders, and none for college.

UF first-year dental student and former cheerleader Patrick Fitzgerald, 23, said banning the cheerleaders from stunts was a caring approach, but a quick decision without much research.

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Grounded UF cheer squad sees support