Third annual ‘Tantrum Tracker’ raises money for Cache Community Food Pantry

What once caused groans from the crowd instead caused an uproar of cheers. With every sideline outburst from the opposing coach, the third annual Leon Rice Tantrum Tracker Fundraiser turned “tantrums” into donation funds. 

During the Utah State University men’s basketball home game against Boise State University on Feb. 18, USU’s student section, the HURD, raised over $1,500 for the Cache Community Food Pantry by tallying the number of tantrums thrown by BSU head coach Leon Rice. 

A tantrum was tallied every time Rice got upset over a play and complained to the referee. 

“If he’s going to throw such a fit all the time, then something good might as well come out of it,” said Natalie Baker, a sophomore studying marketing. “And also, it’s funny.” 

This tradition was started three years ago by Utah State graduate Adam Jessen when he was a student. Jessen said he was frustrated by the coach’s outbursts but came up with the idea to use them for good. 

“I thought it was a really fun thing to do, and so I did it,” Jessen said. 

The rules of the tracker have a tally added every time Rice complains or gets upset with the referee. Additionally, if he gets a technical, that counts as five tantrums, and if he gets ejected, that counts as 10 tantrums.  

“For every tantrum that we tally, people can donate a certain amount to the Cache Valley food bank, so kind of like a fun run,” Baker said. 

This year, the students tracked 35 tallies, resulting in a donation total of $1,572.38 to the food pantry, just under $45 per tantrum and over doubling the amount of last year’s donations. 

Donations were made by individuals watching the game through the GoFundMe account Jessen set up for the event.  

“When Adam came in this morning and gave us the check, it made my entire day,” said Matthew Whitaker, the director of the Cache Community Food Pantry. “I have never heard of something so funny in my life to raise money.” 

While he has no close relation to the food pantry, Jessen finds it important to help local charities and bring good to the community. The money donated to the food pantry goes directly into aiding food-insecure families and individuals in Cache Valley. 

“We can buy items for our backpack program for the children,” Whitaker said. “We can buy food items for the pantry program at the high schools. We can provide senior kits for this. We could buy foods that aren’t donated. There are a lot of different ways we can use a donation like this, so it’s a pretty good impact for us.”  

Jessen said Rice responded to the fundraiser by making a sizable donation himself to the food pantry. 

“I think outside of basketball, he’s a good guy, and he’s a good sport,” Jessen said. 

Jessen said he hopes to see this fundraiser continue as a tradition and to see other students take the initiative to follow through with their ideas. 

“I just hope the HURD and students — they can continue to just be creative and do any dumb idea because any dumb idea can stick,” Jessen said. 

Beyond sticking as a fun tradition, Jessen said this can also build up the Cache Valley community as students and community members seek ways to help each other and bring good to the community. 

“I am just grateful for the community,” Whitaker said. “We cannot do what we do without support.”