Chris Hill had, i swear, two diminutive apparitions over his opposite shoulders that day nearly eight years ago, the day it was announced in a crowded fourth-level box at Rice-Eccles Stadium that Utah was headed for what would now be known as the Pac-12.
One represented all the hard work Hill had put in to make that day happen, and the promise of what could come next. The other illustrated the difficult challenge of lifting the Utes to a position of competitive equality in one of the country’s top leagues.
As red-and-white balloons glistened in the background, as the governor made an appearance, along with Pac-12 officials, Tournament of Roses officials, prominent boosters, university officials, and hundreds of fans, Hill heard both ghosts whispering in his ears.