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Tater Tots for all!
Fans of the delectable treat were surely rooting for No. 6-seeded BYU on Thursday after Ore-Ida announced it would give away free Tater Tots with every win in the NCAA Tournament the Cougars get.
If you’re wondering what the connection between the cylindrical potato treat and the Cougars men’s basketball team it all boils down — or in this case, deep fried — to the fact that forward Richie Saunders is the great-grandson of Ore-Ida founder and the inventor of the Tater Tot, F. “Nephi” Grigg.
Fittingly, Saunders had 16 points on 6 of 12 shooting in an 80-71 BYU win over No. 11 VCU in the first round.
The win sets the stage for the Cougars to face Wisconsin on Saturday, and more importantly, another chance for fans of the Tater Tot to get more free treats.
Prior to Thursday’s first-round game, Ore-Ida announced it signed Saunders to an NIL deal and that, for 30 minutes after a BYU win in March Madness, fans can claim free tots through a link on the company’s Instagram bio.
Richie Saunders 🤝 @OreIdaPotatoes We love our Tater Tot ‘Heir Richie’ 🥔 pic.twitter.com/WBuvnV6jpy— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) March 21, 2025
Tater Tots got plenty of airtime during Thursday’s game on CBS as Dana Jacobson did a small feature during the broadcast on it and after the win, and his teammates chanted “TATER TOTS!” when he walked into the locker room.
“Isn’t that hilarious, man,” he told BYUtv Sports Nation after Thursday’s game. “It’s been a cool little thing, but it’s been funny. The stadium was yelling ‘Tater Tots’ at me and stuff. I wouldn’t have even dreamed of that happening to be honest. It’s hilarious.”
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BYU’s win was the first time the school had made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament since 2011.
“It means so much,” Saunders told reporters, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.
“We’ve had such ups and downs this season, but we’re not ready to be done yet.”
