Last weekend, all eyes were on BYU star Richie Saunders and his Cougars to see if they could deliver a victory on March’s biggest stage — giving tater tot enthusiasts across the country a chance to score free tots.
Not only did BYU win one game, but they also won a second, with Saunders — the grandson of Ore-Ida founder F. Nephi Grigg — scoring 25 points in the win over Wisconsin to send the Cougars to the second weekend of the tournament. Now, thanks to the teams' and Saunders' efforts, Ore-Ida is taking its partnership with the BYU star to a new level — one that will benefit tot fans.
Ore-Ida makes an tot-ally awesome partnership even better
Tonight, the Cougars continue their quest for a title as they battle the Alabama Crimson Tide. And because of Saunders and the team’s tournament run, Ore-Ida has decided to temporarily rebrand as “Ore-Richie,” effective immediately and lasting through the end of the BYU tournament run.
But wait — it gets better, especially if you're a tot fan. While the Tot Clock promotion for the first two BYU wins only went live for 30 minutes after each victory, anyone interested in getting free tots for tonight's game can do so for the entire game. If you missed our last article, the Tot Clock is part of an effort by Ore-Ida to give fans free tater tots when they visit the company’s social media pages and click the link in their bio.
Finally, if BYU manages to win the whole thing, Ore-Ida has vowed to release a limited-edition offering titled "Richie's Tater Tots," which would be the brand's first limited-edition tater tot offering in 20 years. In addition, Saunders would be a trailblazer, as he would be the first athlete to appear on Ore-Ida packaging.
For now, all focus turns to Richie Saunders and his Cougars as they face Alabama tonight at 7:09 p.m. ET on CBS.
I don't know about you, but I will definitely have some tater tots and a refreshing glass of root beer in hand as I watch what has been one of the more feel-good stories in college basketball.