Latest news with #TaterTot
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
March Madness Gets Crispy: Ore-Ida Teases 'Richie's Tater Shots'
Ore-Ida Richie Saunders of BYU is having a March to remember. The BYU standout isn't just making noise on the court, he's claiming his crown as the 'Tot King,' earning national attention for both his game and his golden family legacy. As the great-grandson of F. 'Nephi' Griggs, inventor of the Tater Tot and founder of Ore-Ida, Saunders has turned a viral nickname into a full-blown NIL partnership with the frozen food giant. Advertisement And now, as BYU advances to the Sweet 16, Ore-Ida is going all in with a campaign that blends basketball history, family heritage, and some seriously crispy fanfare. Richie Saunders Leads BYU's Historic Run To Sweet 16, Earns 'Tot King' Crown Ore-Ida Saunders has been instrumental in BYU's historic postseason run. He led the Cougars in scoring during the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, helping the team set a new tournament record and reach the semifinals for the first time in program history. Their momentum didn't stop there, BYU's latest win marks their fourth consecutive victory over a Top 25 opponent, the school's longest such streak since 1951. Advertisement With a Sweet 16 berth secured and a hot hand on the court, Saunders is living up to the "Tot King" title in every sense, and Ore-Ida is celebrating accordingly. Ore-Ida Partners With BYU's Richie Saunders For Free Tots Promo Just hours ahead of BYU's win over VCU, Ore-Ida revealed its partnership with Saunders in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "We're teaming up with basketball hotshot Richie Saunders, the great-grandson of Ore-Ida founder and inventor of Tater Tots, to give away free tots if Richie's team wins today," the company wrote in a press release sent to The Blast. "If they win, the countdown for our 30-minute 'Tot Clock' will begin at the link in our IG bio post-game." Advertisement Following any Cougars victory, Ore-Ida activates a 30-minute 'Tot Clock,' giving fans half an hour to visit the link in the brand's Instagram bio and claim a free Ore-Ida Tater Tots product. 'TATER TOTS!' Chant Echoes After BYU Win As Richie Saunders Embraces Viral Nickname Ore-Ida Tater Tots had their moment in the spotlight during Thursday's CBS broadcast, with Dana Jacobson featuring a short segment on Saunders' viral nickname. After BYU's big win, the celebration continued as his teammates greeted him in the locker room with enthusiastic chants of 'TATER TOTS!' '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.' Advertisement BYU's victory marked the program's first trip past the opening 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.' Ore-Ida Unveils Tot-Worthy Campaign Ore-Ida Leading into Thursday night's high-stakes game, Ore-Ida is honoring its founding family's star athlete with several major moves. First up, limited-edition tots. If BYU wins the NCAA Tournament, Ore-Ida will release a brand-new, limited-edition product: 'Richie's Tater Shots,' inspired by Saunders' smooth jump shot. It would be the brand's first limited-edition Tater Tot in over two decades and the first to ever feature an athlete on the packaging. Advertisement Plus, in a first for the company, Ore-Ida will temporarily rebrand itself as Ore-Richie beginning Thursday, March 27. The playful renaming will remain in effect for as long as BYU continues its March Madness run. Free Tots For All Ore-Ida To mark BYU's deepest tournament run in nearly 15 years, Ore-Ida is extending its beloved Tot Clock. Win or lose, fans across the U.S. can claim free Tater Tots during Thursday's game, from tip-off to the final buzzer (approximately four hours). Redemption details will be available via links in Ore-Ida's social media bios. While the spotlight shines on Saunders' tournament performance, his journey is also a tribute to tradition. From swishing threes to honoring a family invention that changed freezer aisles forever, the BYU guard is proving that greatness runs deep, both in bloodlines and brackets. Advertisement Whether or not BYU brings home the championship, one thing's certain: March has a new king, and his throne is golden and crispy. Fans can tune in Thursday, March 27, at 7:09 PM ET to cheer on the "Tot King."
Fox Sports
23-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
In March Madness thriller, BYU gets back to Sweet 16 with 91-89 victory over Wisconsin
Associated Press DENVER (AP) — BYU withstood a ferocious charge from Wisconsin's John Tonje to hold off the Badgers for a 91-89 victory Saturday that sends the program to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011 — the days of Jimmer Fredette. Tonje finished with 37 points, including eight during a desperate comeback down the stretch. But trailing by two, he shot a fadeaway air ball just before the buzzer that allowed the Cougars to escape. Tonje was the first player to crack 30 points this year in March Madness. 'We felt like we couldn't stop them at all in the second half, and in that last timeout, man, we just looked each other in the eye and said all we've got to do is get one stop, that's it," BYU coach Kevin Young said. Richie Saunders had 25 points and seven rebounds for the sixth-seeded Cougars, who will play Alabama or St. Mary's next Thursday in Newark at the East Regional. The game turned out to be a thriller — a rarity so far in this tournament — even though BYU never trailed. The Cougars (26-9) kept their lead between six and 14 points for most of the second half, but things turned when officials ejected BYU guard Dawson Baker after ruling he intentionally elbowed Wisconsin's Max Klesmit in the groin during a scrum in the corner with 3:11 left. Tonje took over from there, making a 3, two free throws and a three-point play to trim the deficit to two. Wisconsin (27-10) got a BYU miss with 13.5 seconds left, then worked the ball to Tonje, but with Mawot Mag draped all over him, the senior never got a good look. The third-seeded Badgers became the first Big Ten team to lose in the tournament where the conference started 10-0. BYU, meanwhile, is celebrating in a way it hasn't since the days Fredette, who was in the stands for this one, became a college cult hero by rewriting the record book up in Provo in the early 2010s. 'You watched the game and you're kind of like, 'How did we get to a two-point game here, you know?'' Fredette said. 'But look, I think that describes this team.' John Blackwell had 21 points for the Badgers, but of the many things that can turn a one-bucket game, this was the biggest: BYU's bench outscored the Badgers 24-3. Egor Demin, a freshman from Russia, finished with 11 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for BYU. Trevin Knell went 4 for 6 from 3 and finished with 14 points. Baker eligible for next week Quickly after Baker's ejection, the NCAA clarified that it would not lead to a suspension and he would be eligible for BYU's Sweet 16 game. (Pssst. He was probably right) Shortly after making a phantom blocking call against the Cougars late in the first half, refs slapped Mag with a technical. Young asked why and the official explained that Mag had pointed at the scoreboard showing the replay (and minimal contact). The game finished with three technicals and Baker's ejection. Fries with that win? Bonus: Saunders, an heir of the man who invented the Tater Tot, has an NIL deal that gives everyone free Tater Tots after a BYU win in March Madness. Money from the line BYU had a lot to cheer about. One moment came when Keba Keita, a 39% free-throw shooter on the year, swished one to give the Cougars an 11-point lead with about 7 minutes left. Keita went 2 for 3 from the line and finished with 10 points. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. recommended
