Canzano: Snow falls as Utah State rises
Part 4 of my new-world Pac-12 tour.
LOGAN, Utah — Snow fell on Wednesday. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning. State troopers blocked off Interstate-80 midday, temporarily closing the normal route from Salt Lake City through Sardine Canyon to Utah State’s campus in Logan.
I took a detour that added 90 minutes to that trip, but got me there. I’m posted up at the Great Harvest Bakery and Cafe on Center Street near the heart of downtown Logan.
The power went out just as I sat down to write this column. The street lights are out. Employees at the cafe are waiting for a call from someone named “James” — presumably the manager? — to tell them whether they should stay open.
I’m with you until then.
This is Part 4 of my ongoing series on the new-world Pac-12 schools. Utah State will join the conference officially on July 1. I’m eager to dig into the culture of Logan and the mentality of Utah State’s campus.
The Aggies men’s basketball program is scheduled to play against Boise State on Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Both teams are already in town. Ticket sales are strong. The student section was trending toward a sellout midday. At noon, however, the game officials were still 82 miles away in Salt Lake City.
“You may have to officiate the game,” joked one Utah State administrator.