In the aftermath of the NCAA Tournament’s second-round game between BYU and Wisconsin, NFL star and Wisconsin native J.J. Watt took to social media to express his reaction. Following BYU’s narrow 91-89 victory over the Badgers, Watt humorously tweeted, “Boycotting tator tots for the next 48 hours.”
The connection between Watt’s jest and tater tots lies with BYU’s standout player, Richie Saunders. Saunders, who scored a team-high 25 points against Wisconsin, is the great-grandson of one of the founders of Ore-Ida, the company that created tater tots. Additionally, Saunders has an NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) sponsorship with Ore-Ida, which had been offering free tater tots following BYU victories during March Madness.
Watt’s lighthearted remark underscores the emotional investment of fans and alumni during tournament season, as well as the unique storylines that emerge, intertwining athletic performance with personal and familial histories.
