The road to Ephraim — and beyond

EPHRAIM — Because my educational sojourn seldom took me beyond the cafeteria, I can say without hesitation that I never expected to be writing a column from the office of a college president.

But here I am, sitting at the rather large and impressive desk of Snow College president Michael T. Benson while he's out. He gave me the run of the place. There are smart books all around; books on Churchill, Kennedy, Roosevelt, Islam, Christianity, Judaism — and even a picture of Give 'Em Hell Harry.

I'm thinking of bestowing myself an honorary degree before I leave.

I came to town to write a column about the No.1-ranked Snow College football team. Trust me, it had nothing to do with being president for a day. So I'm being objective when I say this: Keep the Badgers in mind. If things go as hoped, they'll be playing Butler College for the junior college national championship at this year's Dalton Defenders Bowl.

All of which would be big news in the Sanpete Valley, but not necessarily a lot of other places. Unless, of course, you're planning on playing Division I-A football some day.

In that case you may want to take note.

Strange as it may sound, the road to a lot of big colleges runs through Ephraim.

"The coaches at Division I colleges know my name," Snow coach Steve Coburn modestly admits.

Getting to Snow takes a little effort, but not much. There's no international airport but the driving directions are easy. You go south from Salt Lake City and turn left at Nephi. You'll pass a car junkyard, a turkey farm that has "Jazz," "Go Snow!" and "Katie and Ashley are hot!" painted on the shed roof. In town, you go down Main Street and pass a malt shop conveniently named The Malt Shop. After you pass the Ephraim Co-Op and

the Town Hall, you hang a left on Center. You're there.

If it's Utah Education Association week, school is out and you can park free in front of the administration building.

You'll have the place to yourself.

Outside the student center, you may even see a hand-painted sign advertising the "Blast from the Past Black Light Dance."

Come to think of it, visiting Ephraim is all of that and more.

It's a grand old 1906 administration building, surrounded by modern college facilities and a killer football team. A step back in time and a step ahead, too.