Jon Heder, AKA Napoleon Dynamite, Attends BYU-Alabama Game With Ore-Ida

NEWARK, N.J. – American actor and comedian Jon Heder, mostly known for his role as Napoleon Dynamite, was in attendance for BYU basketball’s Sweet 16 matchup against Alabama.

Heder sported an Ore-Ida shirt, a frozen foods company that recently sponsored Cougar Hoops star Richie Saunders.

Actor Jon Heder, the man who played Napoleon Dynamite is here with @OreIdaPotatoes for the BYU-Alabama NCAA Tournament game. pic.twitter.com/SFIuPSKdHh

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) March 27, 2025

Napoleon Dynamite debuted in 2004 and was an instant hit for most people who enjoy comedy films.

It won multiple awards, including Best Movie at the 2005 MTV Movie Awards, Best Comedy at the 2005 Golden Trailer Awards, and Best Original Score at the 2005 Golden Satellite Awards.

Heder went on to have roles in Monster House, Surf’s Up, and most recently, Waltzing With Brando.

Heder was born in Fort Collins, Colorado, and attended BYU where he graduated with a degree in computer animation in 2002.

BYU Basketball Faces Alabama In March Madness Sweet 16

BYU Basketball is playing in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 14 years, and the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide stands between them and an appearance in the Elite 8.

The Cougars come off of back-to-back close games in the opening rounds at Ball Arena in Denver. They opened their run with an 80-71 victory over the VCU Rams and followed that with a narrow two-point victory over the Wisconsin Badgers to keep the dance alive.

Alabama also won their first-round matchup by just nine points, but they built up their confidence a bit by smacking Saint Mary’s, 80-66, in the Round of 32.

The Crimson Tide are favored going into the matchup, but few teams in college basketball have been playing better than BYU in March.

BYU Gameday Reading

• BYU vs. Alabama: Three NCAA Tournament Game Day Thoughts
• Alabama Coach Nate Oats Weighs In On NCAA Matchup Against BYU
• Score Prediction For BYU’s NCAA Matchup Against Alabama
• BYU To Hold Sweet 16 Watch Party For Fans At Marriott Center
• BYU Football Cheers On Sweet 16 Hoops Squad With Tater Tots
• Ore-Ida Changes Name To Recognize BYU Star Richie Saunders
• Kevin Young Discussed BYU’s NIL Donors During NCAA Tournament

Follow BYU and the NCAA Tournament on KSL Sports

The Cougars received a No. 6 seed in the East Region and will continue their “Big Dance” in Newark on Thursday against the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide.

Follow the BYU Cougars with KSL Sports here.

Chandler Holt is a co-host of the Jazz Notes podcast, a Locals In The NFL Insider, and Digital Sports Producer for sports.ksl.com. Follow Chandler on X for Utah Jazz and Locals In The NFL updates.

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